Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall sees many components of the state’s new criminal justice reform legislation as welcome opportunities for change.
Making it easier to decertify problematic officers, emphasizing de-escalation tactics and expanding required training — an area where Naperville police are already “way ahead” of the game — are among those positive steps, he says.
But during a virtual forum hosted Thursday by the League of Women Voters of Naperville, Marshall also pointed to sections of House Bill 3653 that he fears will have a significant financial and operational impact on departments across Illinois, ultimately making it more difficult for officers to do their jobs.
“We welcome police reform efforts. We support accountability for our officers,” he said. “I’m concerned with regards to how (the legislation) is going to impact us keeping our community safe.”
Backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and signed last month by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the 764-page bill touches upon nearly every aspect of policing, from equipment to use of force to officer training and certification.
Picture Source: Naperville Police
