GALESBURG A Facebook post attributed to Knox County Sheriff David Clague was posted and then quickly deleted Friday, Jan. 15, over language that some community members have called divisive and potentially racially insensitive.
House Bill 3653, passed by the Illinois House and Senate and spearheaded by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, and awaiting approval from the governor, could bring big changes to law enforcement, leading to negative reactions about its passage from state law enforcement agencies and organizations.
After its passage, a Facebook post attributed to Clague drew criticism from community members and the Galesburg NAACP branch. We have a job to do and that is to protect and serve the citizens of Knox County who have shown their support for us, he said. Hold your head high and be proud! Resigning is not acceptable and by doing so, it shows the Black Caucus that they won. We are better than that!
ROCKFORD A portion of a more than 760-page criminal justice reform bill approved by the General Assembly would expand the powers of the state to decertify police officers for misconduct.
Until now, a police officer had to be convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors, such as offering a bribe, prostitution or criminal sex abuse, to lose certification needed to practice law enforcement in Illinois.
If the bill is signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, that would change starting in 2022 by providing the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board with expanded powers to weed out bad cops if a review panel finds there was misconduct without requiring a conviction.
RAYMON TRONCOSO
Capitol News Illinois
Editorâs note: This story is part of an ongoing âLame Duck Look Backâ series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on the major bills that passed both chambers of the General Assembly in the Jan. 8-13 lame duck session. This is the first of multiple stories examining the criminal justice reform backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus
SPRINGFIELD â The Illinois General Assembly passed a massive criminal justice omnibus bill on Jan. 13 with only Democratic support, navigating initial opposition from labor unions and municipal interest groups, as well as intense Republican and law enforcement pushback.
How Black Caucus passed reforms
Private negotiations, crunch-time changes led to bill’s passage
By Raymon Troncoso
Capitol News Illinois
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing “Lame Duck Look Back” series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on the major bills that passed both chambers of the General Assembly in the Jan. 8-13 lame duck session. This is the first of multiple stories examining the criminal justice reform backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly passed a massive criminal justice omnibus bill on Jan. 13 with only Democratic support, navigating initial opposition from labor unions and municipal interest groups, as well as intense Republican and law enforcement pushback.