Originally Posted on January 13, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2021

Contacts listed at end of release- to view Official Statement click here.

Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition issues statement regarding action taken by the State Senate during the Lame Duck session

SPRINGFIELD – A coalition representing Illinois law enforcement leadership and rank-and-file officers has issued a statement regarding action taken by the State Senate at approximately 4 a.m. today on law enforcement and criminal justice legislation during the Lame Duck Session. The legislation is now in the House of Representatives for concurrence:

In the dark of night Illinois legislators made Illinois less safe. More than 112,000 citizens so far have signed a petition to oppose the community-endangering law enforcement legislation being rammed through the General Assembly, but how did the Senate respond to those constituent concerns? By introducing a 764-page amendment at 3:51 a.m. and shoving it through in the middle of the night before the people voting on it even had a chance to read it. We had been working in good faith with the Attorney General on a bill that would make great strides to modernize law enforcement, but that legislation was dumped into this monster bill and the result is a betrayal of the public trust that gives many more advantages to criminals than the police. It ties the hands of police officers while pursuing suspects and making arrests, and allows criminals to run free while out on bail.

The legislation includes no way to pay for any of these law abiding citizen-threatening measures, so taxpayers will have to pay extra for the privilege of being crime victims.

We applaud the Senators who had the fortitude to vote in favor of public safety by voting against this bill. We strongly implore the members of the House to listen to their constituent concerns, avoid going down the dangerous path the Senate took, and refuse to concur on this draconian legislation that makes communities less safe.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge, FOP Labor Council, FOP Chicago Lodge 7, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police have formed the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition and have been working on these strategies since summer to improve community safety and enhance the trust between community members and law enforcement.

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MEDIA CONTACTS FOR ILLINOIS LAW ENFORCEMENT COALITION:

Illinois Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk, (217) 415-9510

Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Ed Wojcicki (217) 414-7790

Illinois FOP Labor Council Executive Director Shawn Roselieb (708) 784-1010

Illinois FOP Chicago Lodge 7 President John Catanzara, Jr. (773) 497-4567