Police Reform Legislation Draws Praise from Black Lawmakers, Criticism from Police & GOP
Chicago Police officers battle with protestors in 2018.
African American lawmakers are praising a legislative package to reform policing in the state while police unions and some Republicans are critical of the bill, calling the battle to defeat the legislation “a fight to save law enforcement .”
The policing reform legislation could be the most consequential bill advanced during the lame duck session, which begins today in Springfield.
The 611-page legislation, which has been discussed for months, was introduced earlier this week.
The legislation standardizes use of force policies statewide. Currently, each department around the state has its own use of force policy.
The bill also ends cash bail in the state and bans officers from using chokeholds. It also requires all officers in the state to wear body cameras and likely limits “qualified immunity” which protects individual officers from liability when a lawsuit is filed against a police department.
“This is a big, bold, transformative proposal. Change is not easy,” said Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), one of the sponsors of the bill. “But, it’s necessary because that’s the only thing that is constant is change.”
Many Republicans, including Rep. David Welter (R-Morris), call the measure “anti-police.”
“The proposed package includes unfunded mandates on police departments, threatens a 20% cut in funding for public safety budgets, allows officers to be punished or fired based on anonymous and unsubstantiated or unverifiable complaints, and makes a variety of other changes that would make it more difficult for officers to arrest dangerous offenders and keep them in custody,” Welter said in a statement. “Legislation of this magnitude requires appropriate time for public input and thorough debate; not being rushed through during a five-day period as the bill’s supporters are attempting to do.”
In an e-mail to members, Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police union blasted the legislation.
“If we lose this fight, it might as well be a crime to be a law enforcement officer in Illinois. This is not police reform. This is an attack on the law enforcement profession which will not only destroy your livelihood, but also endangers the safety of the citizens throughout Illinois.”
But members of the Senate Black Caucus released a statement saying their work on police reform best understands the needs of the communities they represent. .
“From our perspective, our communities know what they need in order to be kept safe. We come from the communities we represent. Our experiences, combined with our understanding of policy, have shaped our legislative approach, and they cannot be dismissed when it comes to determining what our communities need.”
The legislation will likely start in the Senate over the weekend.
