(East St. Louis, IL) — East St. Louis police are hoping that a new program will help fight crime in their area. On Monday the department will begin their hot-spot policing program. The program will put a heavier police presence in areas where there is a large amount of drugs and criminal activity. The first area they plan on targeting is near Alorton and Washington Park in East St. Louis. Chief Michael Floore says if the program is successful there it will branch out to other areas within the year.