CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) met with chairs of his Law Enforcement Advisory Board and members of Illinois’ law enforcement community to discuss the federal resources available to keep Illinois communities safe. Representatives from the Law Enforcement Advisory Board included Vladimir Talley, Maywood Chief of Police, Daniel O’Shea, Rockford Chief of Police, and James Getz, Decatur Chief of Police, along with members of 17 law enforcement departments across Illinois. Topics included protecting Illinois residents from terror attacks, combating gang violence, ending sex trafficking, addressing the heroin epidemic and preventing the trafficking of illegal firearms.
“It's never been more important for leaders across every level of government to work together to keep Americans safe," said Senator Kirk. "Today I brought together law enforcement from across Illinois to ensure we are fully coordinated to get the federal resources needed to prevent terror attacks, stop dangerous drug gangs and ensure every first responder has access to naloxone."
In April, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the FY2017 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill, which included Kirk-driven priorities to combat gang violence, help local law enforcement address the rape kit backlog and increase funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) competitive grant program that supports local law enforcement.
Recently, Senator Kirk worked with local Chicagoland law enforcement members to combat the rising epidemic of heroin abuse, and presented a donation made by the Jordan Michael Filler Foundation of 500 units of Narcan, the brand name version of the lifesaving drug naloxone that reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Senator Kirk continues to lead on efforts to make naloxone more readily available for first responders to continue saving the lives of Illinois residents.
Senator Kirk has also led on efforts to pass legislation to protect Illinois families from continued gun and gang violence. Illinois firearms are routinely trafficked into Illinois and account for upwards of 60% of guns recovered by Chicago police. Senator Kirk and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have introduced the Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryer-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act of 2015, which would make the trafficking of illegal guns a federal crime and would provide tools for law enforcement to help get illegal guns off our streets.
The meeting included representatives for 17 departments across Illinois:
◾Chicago Heights Police Department
◾Chicago Police Department
◾Cook County Sheriff’s Office
◾Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
◾Decatur Police Deparment
◾Forest Park Police Department
◾Hillside Police Department
◾Jerome Police Department
◾Kane County Sheriff’s Office
◾Lake County Sheriff’s Office
◾Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office
◾Maywood Police Department
◾McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
◾Norridge Police Department
◾Oak Park Police Department
◾River Forest Police Department
◾Rockford Police Department
