Will County Gazette

Rep. Jackie Haas (R--Bourbonnais) thanked Illinois police officers on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and promised to fight for the resources they need to protect the public.

“Today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day," the legislator said Jan. 9 on Facebook. "Appreciation’ is an understatement. These heroes wake up every single day and knowingly put themselves in harms way to protect us – their family, their friends, and complete strangers. The 79th District honors these heroes every single day."

Her comments came as the National Police Foundation (NPF) found that several cities with record-high crime in 2021 are also dealing with police  staffing shortages, the National Police Foundation said according to Newsweek. Chicago is on the list of cities hit hardest by organized retail theft.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot had promised to cut $80 million in funding from the city's police budget during violent anti-police riots and looting in 2020, Just recently she pleaded with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to send federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to help with Chicago’s illegal gun crisis, Fox 17 reported. There are “thousands” of dangerous, wanted individuals roaming the streets, according to Lightfoot.

Will County, with 29 police departments to serve 600,000 people, ranked 99th out of 101 Illinois counties the number of police officers per capita, Crimegrade.org reported. But it is safer than 92% of counties in the U.S., according to that site's data.

"Equally important to celebrating our law enforcement is  passing legislation that protects them, supports them, and provides them  with the resources they need to effectively do their jobs," Haas said. "To all of  my law enforcement officers in the 79th District and all throughout Illinois, thank you. I salute you, I support you, and I will fight for you.”