Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said he will enforce “all state and local laws” in the wake of controversy that stemmed from his earlier promise not to enforce Illinois' new assault weapons ban.

“All parties look forward to positive, productive collaboration on important initiatives that will keep DuPage residents safe and ensure the security of our communities moving forward,” officials said in a statement published by the Chicago Tribune.

Mendrick initially faced resistance after he vowed in January that he would not enforce the state’s new assault weapons ban, which led several Democratic legislators to call upon the sheriff to retract his statement or face official censure for his refusal.

DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy and State’s Attorney Robert Berlin were among those who led the charge against Mendrick, and Conroy threatened to introduce a resolution at the board’s next meeting to officially censure him over the statement, the Tribune reported.

Mendrick said he only changed his position after clarifying that enforcing the assault weapons ban would not demand that “deputies go door to door seeking to remove weapons from those licensed to own them,” which he initially believed those who promoted the ban would have the authority to do.