Parole-violation suspects are unloaded at the Calumet Area police station Police Station Thursday after a police sweep of the Park Manor neighborhood. Police hoped the sweep would shake loose some information about the slaying of Officer Michael Bailey, who was killed outside his Park Manor home on July 18. (Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune / July 28, 2010)

Nearly two weeks after the slaying of an off-duty Chicago police officer, investigators are stepping up efforts to find out whether anyone knows something about the early morning killing in the Park Manor neighborhood.

With reward money for an arrest and conviction mounting — it currently stands at just shy of $130,000 — the Illinois Department of Corrections joined Chicago police Thursday on an early morning roundup of parolees in the Park Manor neighborhood were Officer Michael Bailey, a 20-year officer, was shot and killed on July 18.

The roundup was part of a compliance check on the parolees, which are done regularly. But the state has started coordinating with local law enforcement agencies to address specific crime patterns and lend support to officers if they need it, officials said.

Last weekend three neighborhoods on the South and Northwest sides were the subject of similar parolee checks on account of rising violence.

"We are trying to get more target-specific,'' said Mike McCotter, the newly appointed public safety officer of the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Rounding up parole violators in Park Manor provided an opportunity to shake information loose from the neighborhood about Bailey's shooting. "We are hoping that something comes of it,'' McCotter said.

Other law enforcement sources said the roundups should also send a message that no one has stopped looking for information on the officer's death.

The sweep was welcome by longtime Park Manor residents who are also worried the case will go cold.

"We are not going to stop,'' said Darlene Tribue, the president of the Park Manor Neighbors' Community Council. "Let every law enforcement agency come and help us.''

The rewards that have been posted include large lump sums from the law enforcement community to $1,000 from the Park Manor organization.

"This is an historical community in the city,'' Tribue said. "I can't allow them to feel unsafe in their homes. … I am not going to say our peace is shattered. Your peace is shattered if you allow someone to shatter it. I can't take that attitude."