Will County Gazette

Illinois State Senate District 43 candidate Jen Monson reacted to the death of a Chicago police officer in a November 5 Facebook post, stating, "This was brought to you by the SAFE-T Act..."

"Just awful," said Monson, according to Facebook. "Prayers for his family!! This was brought to you by the SAFE-T Act…"

In her post, Monson shared a link to a WGN TV Facebook post about the death of Chicago Police officer Enrique Martinez. The 26-year-old officer was killed in the line of duty on the South Side of Chicago. According to WGN TV, one of the suspects had removed an ankle monitor from Will County.

Screenshot of Jen Monson's Nov. 5 Facebook post | Jen Monson for IL State Senate District 43 Facebook page

WGN 9 reports that Martinez had been with the department for nearly three years and worked out of the sixth district. On Monday around 8 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle in the 8000 block of S. Ingleside Ave., in Chatham. As officers approached, the driver fired multiple shots, hitting Martinez and possibly killing a passenger in the vehicle. A second officer was injured when the driver attempted to flee and struck him. It was also noted that a deceased passenger in the back seat possessed a handgun.

ABC7 reports that an officer discharged his weapon at the scene and that firearms belonging to officers involved are under scrutiny. The officer struck by the vehicle is reportedly in fair condition. After hitting the second officer, the shooter attempted to escape but was apprehended nearby.

"We have to do everything that we can to keep violent offenders off the street, especially those who are repeating these acts," said Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling in an ABC7 report. "If we don't do that, then we're failing our citizens. We're failing our children. We're failing their futures."

Jen Monson is described as a mother of three and a paraprofessional working directly with children with disabilities on her campaign website. She is also an active member of her local school board and has two decades of experience as a business owner.