A coalition of Illinois’ law enforcement groups has issued a 15-point plan that they say is designed to “build trust” and “stronger relationships” with the communities they serve. The list includes priorities, goals, and in some cases defenses of policies. Particularly in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing by police in Minneapolis, there were calls for “defunding the police”, which many activists described as reallocating police funds to things like mental health services and other community improvement efforts. The coalition’s strategy says having access to a social worker or mental health professional would be “very helpful” in some cases. But they add there are difficulties in finding these kinds of workers, particularly in communities with already strained budgets. No-knock warrants came to the public’s attention after a Louisville, Kentucky woman, Breonna Taylor, was mistakenly killed by police executing a no-knock warrant. The Coalition says while these types of warrants are “seldom granted” they are a necessary tool sometimes. They add that serving a warrant is one of the most dangerous activities that police have to execute because those being served warrants often resort to violence. The Coalition is made up of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, FOP Labor Council, FOP Chicago Lodge 7, Illinois Sheriff’s Association, and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
