Peter Hitchens argues police power has become a threat to public respect
- An investigation by the Illinois Attorney General's office revealed systemic issues of excessive force in the Joliet Police Department, with findings based on extensive documentation and footage.
- The report highlighted a culture within the department that failed to address unreasonable uses of force, particularly in encounters involving vulnerable individuals.
- This investigation underscores the need for meaningful reforms and greater accountability within the police force to prevent future incidents.
In Illinois, a lengthy investigation by the state's Attorney General, Kwame Raoul, revealed troubling patterns within the Joliet Police Department regarding the use of excessive force. This investigation, which began in September 2021, examined over 1,000 documents and included body camera footage and ride-alongs with investigators. The findings indicated a concerning culture within the department, with officers frequently engaging in unreasonable force, which they failed to address or intervene against when witnessed among colleagues. Threats to public safety were particularly alarming, focusing on instances involving vulnerable populations, including teenagers and individuals with behavioral health issues. The report underscored that supervisors within the department often condoned excessive force, creating a culture where almost any level of aggression was justifiable. Notably, the investigation arose after the 2020 death of Eric Lurry, a Black man while in police custody, prompting scrutiny of the officers involved in his arrest. Raoul's office emphasized that the path to improving police conduct requires ongoing collaboration between city officials and law enforcement. This includes more stringent policies and active measures to foster accountability and proper training among officers to ensure that constitutional policing is maintained and that similar tragic events are not repeated.