Will County Gazette

State Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) is desperately hoping not to see the police reform message get lost in any translation.

“If we defund the police, how do stop all the violence we all want to see end in neighborhoods and communities everywhere?” McDermed told the Will County Gazette. "I don’t see how that makes things better for anyone."

The movement to do away with police departments has been sweeping the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, sparking protests and violence. Minneapolis City Council members were among the first to broach the possibility of permanently doing away with their city's police department, and the idea quickly gained the support of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and the leaders of the Chicago Public Schools.

In McDermed’s mind, it all just breeds more confusion, like Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's proposal that all officers be licensed by the state.

“I don’t see what benefit that adds,” McDermed added. “Typically, we’re pushing for less regulation, so again what is that going to add?”

McDermed said the biggest hindrance to real reform among Chicago Police always leads back to the same issue. 

“In my opinion, the biggest roadblock to eliminating racism from police departments are public unions, because when folks are disciplined for anything you have to go through the union,” she said. “Even the consent decree the department is now working under, no matter what the reform ideas they come up with the union contract trumps it all. Union contracts get in the way of everything.”