Dupage Policy Journal

This week, House Rep. Jim Durkin of the Illinois General Assembly is calling on his colleagues to increase measures designed to increase transparency and accountability. 

In his address to his peers, Durkin said, "I'm here to discuss Governor Pritzker’s continuing lack of respect for and also continuing attack on our police officers, those currently on the force and those who have served, and the victims of crime in the state. I’m joined today by my two guests, Robert Mizera, a former Chicago police officer who after just a few weeks on patrol was shot and nearly killed by a man named Kensley Hawkins. Hawkins would go on to be convicted not just of the attempted murder of Mizera, but also of a murder of a 65-year-old man conducted a week before that shooting. He was sentenced to 95 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for both these crimes. JB Pritzker commuted Hawkins’ sentence for the murder and the attempted murder of Officer Mizera in 2021."

Durkin took his opportunity to call out Pritzker for what he says are the negative consequences of the SAFE-T Act, which was signed into law by Pritzker in January of last year. The bill was designed to increase scrutiny on law enforcement and was passed in the wake of the George Floyd murder at the hands of police. 

Durkin continued to say, "I've said over the past year that Gov. Pritzker has created a consequence-free state of Illinois for criminals, cold-blooded murderers and street gangs. Just listening to the testimony today, it's never more evident. Gov. Pritzker revealed his true hand toward police all throughout the state by signing the SAFE-T Act, otherwise known as the defund police act, into law. He also time and time again has shown a disregard for the victims of violent crime in our state, releasing cold-blooded killers on our streets. His disregard for the pain and tragedy victims have endured is astonishing."

As part of the SAFE-T legislation, the Illinois House of Representatives passed legislation that would give people on home confinement periods of free movement. Those people are now able to move freely for two days per week in order to carry out "essential tasks" such as shopping or working. 

Sen. Dale Fowler is supportive of Durkin and says that the SAFE-T legislation drives professionals away from law enforcement careers at a time of need. Fowler said, “It's been very frustrating to see our law enforcement officers retire early, some of our sheriffs retire early, and our students not wanting to go into the law enforcement field.”