ILGOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey with FOP officials
O'FALLON IL — Wednesday, farmer and businessman Darren Bailey promised to stand with Illinois law enforcement and work to help them do their jobs and keep Illinois safe. Bailey promised to protect police pensions and called for reinstating the death penalty for cop killers.
Governor JB Pritzker has all but declared law enforcement the enemy. His signature legislation made Illinois the first state in the country to completely eliminate cash bail and will make it harder for police members to do their jobs. As a result, police are leaving the force in record numbers. Illinois police are understaffed, overworked, and under-appreciated.
“Make no mistake: Governor Pritzker bears direct responsibility for this crisis,” Darren Bailey said. “It’s time for a change. Let me tell you how different things will be under a Bailey administration. We will invest in training and staffing. We will work to improve working conditions across the state to ensure we can hire and retain great officers. We will repeal the absurdly named SAFE-T Act and no cash bail. We will protect our police officers’ pensions.”
Bailey continued, “We will send an unambiguous message to criminals and wannabe lawbreakers: There is a new sheriff in town. JB Pritzker shamelessly releases convicted cop killers back on the street. When I’m governor, we will reinstate the death penalty for convicted cop killers.”
Watch Darren Bailey’s remarks here.
Bailey is a third-generation farmer from downstate who today, along with his sons, owns and operates Bailey Family Farm. He was elected to the state legislature in 2018 and, in 2020, led the charge against J.B. Pritzker's harmful lockdowns and mandates that hurt businesses and children's education across the state. Bailey and his wife of 35 years, Cindy, live on the farm in Southern Illinois.
The general election for governor will occur on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
