by Attorney Eric D. PuryearThe Quad Cities Metropolitan Enforcement Group, abbreviated as QCMEG, is a collaboration of law enforcement from the Illinois and Iowa police departments in the Quad Cities area. QCMEG focuses on drug charges in Illinois and Iowa, and is funded with by State and Federal money.
QCMEG focuses primarily upon matters that can be charged as a felony, such as possession with intent to deliver in Iowa and manufacture/delivery in Illinois. QCMEG often employs sting operations such as controlled buys and confidential informants.
Those who are being investigated by QCMEG are well advised to remain silent and seek an attorney at once, as speaking to the police can cause great harm to a person’s legal interests.
Conclusions from a study conducted in regard to QCMEG are follows:
Twelve officers, one office manager and one criminal analyst were assigned to the QCMEG in
2010. Seven of the officers were assigned by participating agencies from Illinois and five from
Iowa.From 2002 to 2011, the number of cannabis and controlled substances arrests made by QCMEG
and reported to the ICJIA decreased, from 165 to 156 with violations of the Controlled
Substances Act accounting for more drug arrests made by QCMEG for one-half of the period
analyzed than violations of the Cannabis Control Act. In comparison, from 2002 to 2011, the
number of cannabis and controlled substances arrests made by non-QCMEG agencies decreased
from 687 to 579. Violations of the Cannabis Control Act consistently accounted for more drug
arrests made by non-QCMEG agencies throughout the period analyzed than violations of the
Controlled Substance Act.Between 2002 and 2011, the number of QCMEG arrests for violations of the Cannabis Control
Act increased 56 percent, from 59 to 92, while arrests for violations of the Controlled Substances
Act more decreased 39 percent, from 106 to 64. In 2011, 41 percent of all drug arrests made by
QCMEG were for violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
The quantity of cannabis seized by QCMEG fluctuated greatly between 2002 and 2011. QCMEG
also seized 584,802 grams of cocaine between 2002 and 2011.
Between 2002 and 2011, 1,303 drug prosecutions were initiated as a result of QCMEG arrests in
Rock Island County. During the period examined, the number of QCMEG drug arrests decreased
5 percent, and 91 percent of all drug arrests by QCMEG resulted in prosecution. Forty-eight
percent of QCMEG drug offender prosecutions during this period were for violations of the
Controlled Substance Act.Using CHRI data, it was determined that in 2011, there were 226 drug convictions in Rock
Island County. QCMEG reported that they had 106 task force drug convictions in 2011.
Assuming that the majority, if not all, of QCMEG arrests were made within Rock Island County,
then 47 percent of the Rock Island County drug convictions were from QCMEG. QCMEG
convictions accounted for approximately 51 percent, or 74 of the 145, Cannabis Control Act
convictions and 35 percent, or 28 of the 81, Controlled Substance Act convictions in Rock Island
County.According to the data reports provided by QCMEG, in 2011, the majority of QCMEG drug
offenders were sentenced to probation. Of the 118 offenders sentenced in 2011, 41 percent were
sentenced to probation, 31 percent were sentenced to prison, and 16 percent were sentenced to a
combination of jail or jail and probation. The remaining 12 percent consisted of sentences to
conditional discharge, fines and suspended sentenceAccording to survey responses, cannabis, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine continued to be the
most visible drugs on the street and were reported to be readily available across nearly every
region.QCMEG reported that cocaine, crack, cannabis, heroin, PCP, methamphetamine and LSD were
all more readily available in Rock Island County than in other areas of the state.
The reported 2009 average prices of cocaine, crack, and cannabis were relatively consistent
statewide and in mixed urban/rural regions. Methamphetamine had a higher average price in the
QCMEG region than other regions, but heroin had a slightly lower average price.