Will County Gazette

With violent crime on the rise across much of the state, state Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) traces much of the blame back to Springfield.  

“The issues we’re discussing today have real consequences in the lives of Illinoisans and unfortunately we're seeing these consequences impact the lives of Illinoisans all too frequently,” Haas said at a Jan. 5 news conference on the issue. “Democrats have created a climate that has emboldened criminals to believe they will not be punished for these heinous acts.”

Haas pointed to the recent killing of Bradley police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic in an attack that also left her partner critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head.

“Last week in my district we endured the unspeakable tragedy of losing the life of a police officer,” Haas said. “Sgt. Rittmanic was shot and killed while pleading for her life. Her partner, Officer Tyler Bailey, was critically wounded. These two officers were responding to what would generally be considered a routine nuisance call, a call about a barking dog left unattended in a car in a parking lot of a hotel. When they went to the room of the suspected owners, they were ambushed and attacked. My thoughts are with the family, friends and coworkers of these officers. My colleagues and I have been raising concerns about the massive uptick in violence in the city of Chicago and we warned the governor over and over again that the violence that they see in Cook County will bleed into the rest of the state if it continues to go on unaddressed.”

Haas notes that the increased violence has come about in the same year that House Bill 3653 passed, ending the state’s cash bail system and enacting changes promoted as seeking greater police accountability. In wake of the bill's passing, 17% of Illinois sheriffs made the decision to retire early.    

“Sadly, we see our warnings have come to fruition here,” Haas said. “The shooter of Sgt. Rittmanic and Officer Bailey is a habitual offender. He had been arrested 21 times and charged 43 times with various crimes throughout Kankakee County. He was wanted on a warrant in June of this year for residential burglary, theft and deception and knowingly damaging property. He was also wanted on warrants for failure to appear in court and had previously fled from police officers when they tried to detain him on these warrants. Now, he's been arrested and charged for this horrible and heinous crime of murder of a police officer. This is an example of what happens when we allow criminals leniency. This is an example of what will continue to happen as a result of the SAFE-T Act.”

Haas argues the solution is a simple one.

“We cannot continue to allow those who repeatedly violate the law to run the streets with no consequence,” she said. “We cannot continue to tie the hands of our law enforcement officials and our court system. My heart is heavy with the reality of this situation and I urge Gov. Pritzker and his Democratic colleagues to see crime in Illinois for what it is. There are very real consequences when we embolden criminals and fail to support our Illinois Law Enforcement Officers.”