SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – Sen. Darren Bailey spoke with members of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Wednesday throughout the group’s statewide convention in O’Fallon, Illinois. The Republican nominee for governor says women and men who serve in regulation enforcement are heroes, however he feels Gov. JB Pritzker treats police like enemies.

Bailey has tried accountable Pritzker and Democratic leaders for rising crime as a result of elimination of money bail. Nevertheless, that portion of the SAFE-T Act doesn’t take impact till January 1. The Republican stood alongside FOP leaders whereas he criticized the laws championed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

The Xenia lawmaker claims the regulation makes it more durable to cost homicide accomplices and permits for nameless complaints to be filed towards officers. If elected governor in November, Bailey stated he would again regulation enforcement by investing in recruiting and retaining officers and repealing the SAFE-T Act.

“We’ll ship an unambiguous message to criminals and wannabe lawbreakers that there’s a new sheriff on the town,” Bailey stated. “This sheriff won’t coddle criminals.”

Bailey additionally stated he won’t look the opposite method whereas kids are “gunned down whereas enjoying” in parks round their neighborhoods. But, the candidate additionally infamously stated folks wanted to maneuver on and have a good time the Fourth of July after seven folks have been killed and dozens extra have been injured throughout a mass capturing in Highland Park.

The Pritzker marketing campaign says Bailey is pleased to make use of law enforcement officials when it’s handy, however the senator’s voting report reveals he has completed little to learn regulation enforcement.

Nonetheless, Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood stated his group is contemplating endorsing Bailey within the governor’s race. Southwood stated Bailey has completed the whole lot he can to alleviate issues from members. He defined Bailey needs to guard police pensions and pledged to help union agreements for the FOP.

Controversial Chicago Lodge 7 President John Catanzara stated Bailey admitted he doesn’t know the whole lot and wanted to learn by regulation enforcement to know what they wanted. Catanzara burdened that change must happen in Springfield and Chicago to deal with rising crime. He claimed Illinois has been a nightmare for the reason that SAFE-T Act took impact and Democrats handed the plan from a “50,000-foot overview” as a result of it was all about feelings.

“I can inform you Sen. Bailey has been extra concerned in attempting to know what the issues are, what must be addressed in that than each different politician that helped craft it, go it, and signal it.”

Though, regulation enforcement leaders have been included in lots of non-public discussions and public hearings concerning the legal justice plan earlier than lawmakers voted.

The Pritzker marketing campaign notes that Bailey voted towards the Fiscal 12 months 2023 price range that included historic investments for police retention and the biggest class of Illinois State Police cadets.

“Till Bailey tells us whether or not he stands with the insurrectionists on the Capitol on January 6 or the law enforcement officials who defended our democracy, he has no proper to assert he helps regulation enforcement,” stated JB for Governor Press Secretary Eliza Glezer.

Bailey stated Pritzker shamelessly releases convicted cop killers out onto the streets by the state’s Prisoner Evaluation Board.

“Once I’m governor, we’ll work to reinstate the demise penalty for anybody who kills a cop,” Bailey stated. “It doesn’t matter what neighborhood that you simply stay in or how a lot cash you make, the federal government’s most elementary accountability is to maintain folks protected.”

Former Democratic governor Pat Quinn signed a invoice into regulation in 2011 to finish the demise penalty in Illinois. That regulation changed capital punishment with convictions for all times with out parole. Nonetheless, former Republican governor George Ryan declared a moratorium on the demise penalty in Illinois. He later commuted the sentences of greater than 160 demise row inmates.

A number of Illinois lawmakers have filed proposals in recent times to reinstate the demise penalty for folks accused of killing police. None of these payments gained vital help in both chamber of the Basic Meeting.

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