Kane County Reporter

Illinois Fraternal Order of Police President Chris Southwood threw his support behind an updated legislative package proposed by Senate Republications aimed at addressing the crime rate and supporting law enforcement officers.

“I’d like to thank the Senate Republicans for putting forward this anti-crime legislative package,” Southwood said at a press conference arranged by State Sen. Don DeWitte (R-West Dundee).

“I think it’s important to note that this is the second time they have put forward this type of legislation. Sadly, if the majority party had listened the first time, perhaps we could have avoided some of the senseless tragedies that have occurred, such as December 29th, when we lost two of our finest: Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley, who was responding to a motorist assist, and Bradley Police Officer Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, responding to a barking dog complaint. These officers weren’t just killed in the line of duty. They were executed.”

Southwood said, “the war on police in Illinois,” has to end. 

“Illinois has some of the finest, best-trained public safety law enforcement professionals in the nation,” he said. “Chicago police officers, Illinois State Troopers, sheriff’s deputies, city officers, our correctional officers, who have a truly difficult and thankless job. I’d put them up against any similar positions anywhere in the nation. We should all be proud of their dedicated professionalism. But we’re losing them at historic levels. They’re leaving the profession, and it’s not just those who are taking early retirement. It’s officers with 10 to 12 years on. The future leaders of their department. They’re gone. Couple this with the historically low recruitment numbers, and at a time when we need it most, the public safety professional in Illinois is headed for disaster.”

Republicans have railed against the SAFE-T Act, calling it anti-police. Southwood agrees. “Violent crime is surging unchecked in our communities all across the state,” he said. “Enough. This legislative package, if passed, could be the beginning of a safer Illinois for all of us: citizens and public safety professionals alike.”

The package includes $125 million in grants to hire and retain local police officers and fund training and equipment. It also requires defendants who commit aggravated battery against a police officer must serve at least 85% of their sentences. It also sets a minimum sentence of 10 years for anyone who supplies convicted felons with firearms, and mandatory sentences on straw purchasing and gun trafficking.

The bill also includes a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for first-time offenders charged with various aggravated use of a firearm while committing crimes.

Second-time offenders may receive life sentences for “aggravated discharge of a firearm, use of a stolen or illegally acquired firearm in the commission of an offense, unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons, armed habitual criminal, and aggravated vehicular hijacking or aggravated carjacking,” according to the release.

Crimes have increased around Chicago. According to a report on WTTW, this January was the fourth-deadliest January the Chicago Police Department has seen since 2000, with 219 people shot, 48 people murdered, and 791 guns recovered.