Lake County Gazette

Members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus unveiled a revised legislative package intended to stem a spike in violent crime and support law enforcement efforts in the state.

The legislative package was announced at a press conference held in front of the police remembrance wall at the Capitol Rotunda. The wall honors fallen police officers. The update package includes a ‘Fund the Police Grant Act,’ which would provide targeted grants to assist law enforcement, provide additional training, and purchase much-needed equipment, including body cameras, according to a release from the office of state Sen. Craig Wilcox.

A similar press conference called by the Republican Caucus was held about three months ago.

“There is no excuse to go another single day without addressing the crime wave that is wreaking havoc on our state,” Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) said in the release. “While our package won’t eliminate crime completely, it would get us on a good path toward safer neighborhoods.”

The Republican senators called for greater support for law enforcement.  Officers are leaving the profession in “unprecedented” numbers. In many cases, officers leaving the profession have said their decision was made largely, according to the release “due to provisions of the so-called 'SAFE-T Act,' an anti-police package rammed through by a partisan vote in the late-night hours of a lame-duck session in January 2021.”

The Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act eliminates cash bail by 2023, allows certain people accused of felonies to not have to be detained before trial, and imposes restrictions on Illinois police officers. Law enforcement groups and police unions stated that the SAFE-T Act poses a threat to public safety.

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) said it's no surprise law enforcement officers are leaving the profession. “They’re facing historic levels of violent crime, and their state government is making their jobs harder and less safe,” Bryant said in the release.

The Republican anti-crime package, according to the release, also contains bills to “keep violent offenders off of the street, help stop the flow of illegal guns to criminals, take serious action against carjacking, provide mental health treatment to detainees, and repeal the dangerous bail provisions of the anti-police 'SAFE-T Act.'”

“These are reasonable, common-sense steps we can take today to protect our communities,” said state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield). “If Democrats are truly ready to do something to protect the people of this state, they can prove it by allowing these bills to be heard, debated, and considered in committee.”

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 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. A mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for first-time offenders charged with various aggravated use of a firearm while committing crimes is also included.

According to WTTW news, 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.