Just about every day statewide, we are hearing reports about another municipality passing a resolution, or a State’s Attorney filing a lawsuit concerning the Safe-T Act. As Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates reminded us, the Safe-T Act actually began early in 2021.
But previous requirements concerning training hours or body worn cameras for police officers were things the Danville Police were already doing. It’s the January 1st of 2023 changes that have everyone worried; with the big one being the elimination of cash bail. Just last week, the Danville City Council passed a new full time position for the Danville Police to try and prepare for this. As Chief Yates explained, a previous part-time position is now a full-time position for the Administration Specialist and Compliance Coordinator.
AUDIO: We don’t want to have to play catch up and hire people after we’re already needing them. And I think a lot of the answers will be found out on the fly, and unfortunately that’s not the most effective way to be preparing for something. This isn’t political, there’s bipartisan concerns about this.
Yates says the concern is among all law enforcement wanting everyone to be able to do their jobs protecting residents; from Police worrying about prosecutors, to prosecutors worrying about police.
AUDIO: But whenever you start talking about no bond, and how do we hold people; and not being able to take people into custody for Class B, C, and petty offenses; that changes things. (Such as) the amount of work and stress it’s going to put on the criminal justice system across the street at the courthouse. A lot of questions are left unanswered.
Although state legislators are due back in Springfield after the November 8th election, there has been much desire expressed to get them back in for a special session on this before the election.
