East Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) argues House Bill 163 stands to cause more harm than good when all is said and done.

“This is a punish the police bill,” Wilhour told the East Central Reporter. “It will not make our communities safer and it puts our law enforcement officers in unnecessary danger.”

Wilhour isn’t alone in sounding the alarm in opposition to the measure known as the “Criminal Justice Reform” bill, which, among other things, seeks to enact such changes as prohibiting pre-trial detention, impeding law enforcement investigations and removing all due process protections for officers.

“I will work against this 600 page nonsense,” Wilhour added. “We do need reforms that increase safety, accountability and encourage investment that will bring jobs and increased opportunities to many of our neglected citizens in rural and minority areas. That’s the fix. This junk will do the opposite.”

Supported by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the bill would also outlaw cash bails and expand police reform on use of force, crisis training and prohibiting chokeholds. The proposed reforms have been a work in progress ever since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police last summer.

The bill also includes mandating the use of body cameras across the state by 2025 and the use of special prosecutors in police-involved killings.

Wilhour is joined in blasting the proposed legislation by many of the state’s top law enforcement officials, many of whom released a joint statement arguing the bill “would destroy law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe.”

As a counter, they are urging lawmakers to “avoid making a sudden, rash decision and instead work carefully with all stakeholders to truly examine what needs to be done regarding law enforcement in Illinois.”