* Irvin campaign yesterday morning…
After a third police officer was shot in less than a week, the trend of heightened violence and brazen disregard for police shows just how empowered criminals really are in J.B. Pritzker’s Illinois. Yesterday’s shooting comes just days after another officer was shot in the same neighborhood and a U.S. Marshal and his K-9 dog were shot while serving an arrest warrant.
The ever-prompt Gary Rabine sent out a release last night in response…
Three police officers have been shot in the same week in one of the most dangerous periods in history for law enforcement. The only person in this gubernatorial race who has actively represented an individual who attacked a police officer is Fake-GOP-Candidate, Richard Irvin. This is in addition to his decade and a half long career representing sexual predators and wife beaters. Richard Irvin has no idea how to deal with the crime problem in this state because for too long he has been part of the problem. It’s time we fully support law enforcement, hold criminals accountable, and get rid of horrible prosecutors like Cook County State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx.
Yikes.
From a Democratic oppo book…
ALEXANDER NUNEZ
Nunez “Kicked” Police Officer On The Face And Shoulder. “[Alexander Nunez] knowingly caused bodily harm to Ofc. Shettles in that he kicked OFC Shettles on the left shoulder and left side of the face, knowing said victim to be a peace officer, while performing his official duties.” [People of the State of Illinois v Alexander Nunez, Count 1, 7/5/16]
Nunez Punched Victim In The Face. “[Alexander Nunez] knowingly caused bodily harm to Moenkemier, Michal J, a family or household member of the defendant, in that said defendant punch Michael in the face with a closed fist.” [People of the State of Illinois v Alexander Nunez, Count 3, 7/5/16]
The case is here.
* We’ve been through this topic before, but click here for background if you still need it. Springfield Leaks…
Tom DeVore, an attorney who is running for Illinois Attorney General’s Office, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a married 27 year old woman, while legally representing her during COVID-19 mask mandates and business shut-downs. According to police reports and body camera footage that we have obtained, DeVore, who is 52 years old, is being accused by the family of a 27 year old woman of manipulating her and telling her that she would receive a big settlement from the state in order to have her “doing things.” Although both individuals are consenting adults, the Illinois Supreme Court has a rule that prohibits such conduct and has even said that it could result in disciplinary proceedings against any attorney involved in such conduct.
According to a recent incident report, there was a disturbance between DeVore and his girlfriend, Riley N. Craig, age 27, that required police response while they were staying at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Downtown, Springfield on April 20, 2022.
Just your normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill attorney general candidate.
* Irvin promises not to close Pontiac prison in visit to Pontiac…
The first topic addressed was the prison situation. Irvin is familiar with what has been taking place but isn’t happy with it.
“I know they’ve been closing down a couple of wings, which to me suggests eventually they’re going to try to close the whole prison,” Irvin told The Leader. “To do that without talking to the community and recognizing how valuable those jobs are to the community, I think is wrong.
“This governor has done that — done executive orders and made decisions without including the other leaders. As next governor, I’ll definitely give everybody a seat at the table and make sure we talk about things before we make decisions and insure that when jobs are getting taken away from a community, which they should never be, that I’m going to talk to people first before it happens.
“As governor, I’ll make sure that we don’t take away jobs, that we actually bring jobs to the city.”
…Adding… From the governor’s office…
As we have said time and time again, DOC is actually hiring MORE people at Pontiac. If you know anyone in the community who would like a job here’s the post: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job/Springfield-CORRECTIONAL-OFFICER-TRAINEE-0967600-IL-62702-5643/707716100/
* Hmmm…
From the Aurora PD…
When it became apparent that Aurora Pride organization would have difficulty recruiting the remaining required officers willing to take additional shifts, APD and the City met with organizers of the Pride Parade and began working closely with them to mitigate the issue. APD introduced Aurora Pride to other police departments and organizations which could provide sworn law enforcement personnel.
On Monday, June 6th, Aurora Pride informed APD that after reaching out to neighboring jurisdictions and state law enforcement agencies, they were unable to fill the additional sworn law enforcement slots needed for the overall safety of the parade.
* Remember this?…
Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara is demanding that three of his union’s strongest City Council supporters choose between their loyalties to his group and their allegiance to the firefighters union.
At a stormy meeting last week, Catanzara insisted that the three council members, all former firefighters — Nick Sposato (38th), Anthony Napolitano (41st) and Jim Gardiner (45th) — pledge their support to Erin Jones, a Chicago Police Department detective challenging incumbent state Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago). […]
Napolitano added that he doesn’t support Martwick — he just didn’t like how Catanzara handled the situation.
Last night, Napolitano endorsed Martwick’s opponent. Click here.
* Raja…
The Daily Herald’s editorial board wrote, “In his three terms in Congress, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg has quickly established himself as one of the most prominent Democrats on Capitol Hill, a legislator who can lead on tough issues while still working collaboratively across the aisle. He’s an accessible, hardworking left-of-center politician who has earned a positive ranking in the Bipartisan Index calculated by the nonprofit Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.”
The Editorial Board continued, “At a time of growing partisan and extremist rancor in the House, Krishnamoorthi has found ways to work effectively with colleagues of both parties to address the dangers of vaping, build workforces and address stock trading by members of Congress. He’s helped protect the nation from COVID-19 and advance technical education. He is an able and likable problem solver who gets things done — someone with the experience to understand how to work effectively when his party controls the House and when it does not. Why would Democrats in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District want to lose those skills?”
They concluded, “We have endorsed Krishnamoorthi in previous elections and we have been happy with his performance. We strongly endorse him in the June 28 Democratic primary.”
* CD1…
Democratic candidate for Congress Karin Norington-Reaves today announced the endorsement of the Teamsters Joint Council 25, who represent more than 100,000 members in Illinois and Northwest Indiana with 25 local union affiliates.
“As the daughter of a sheet metal worker and granddaughter of both a carpenter and ironworker, I will always stand with the working men and women of this district,” said Norington-Reaves. “As the head of workforce development for Chicago and Cook County, I helped more than 100,000 people find a quality job, many of them union jobs. Unions are the gateway to a strong, stable economic future for so many families. I am proud to have The Teamsters’ support for my campaign, and will be a champion for them in Congress.”
“Karin has 30 years of experience in community development, advocacy, and job creation,” said Terrence J. Hancock, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25. “We have seen Karin’s work in our communities, adding to our membership ranks, and helping working men and women find family-sustaining careers. We know Karin will stand with us every step of the way as our next Congresswoman and continue to support policies and programs that create good-paying jobs, support working families, and spur economic growth in the 1st District. We are proud to stand with her.”
* More…
* Republican attorney general candidate: ‘Where they do not enforce the law, we will enforce it’: David Shestokas, an Orland Park attorney and former assistant Cook County state’s attorney, said during an interview with the Daily Herald editorial board that he would assign attorneys from the attorney general’s office to monitor “people like Kim Foxx in Cook County and Eric Rinehart in Lake County and other prosecutors around the state who fail to enforce the law.”
* GOP candidates line up for chance to challenge Underwood, Foster in two closely watched congressional districts
* Davis touts record in Congress, but rivals Collins, Mendenhall want change
* Kaegi, Steele debate effectiveness of Cook County assessor’s office reforms
* Meet the two Illinois Republicans on the ballot for the 37th District state Senate seat
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:20 pm:
The Tough on Crime Defense Attorney. What a brand.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:24 pm:
Apparently your rights to freely speak and peaceably assemble in Richard Irvin’s Aurora are at least partly dependent on whether enough local law enforcement officers decide they want to show up. Even if you disclose the time, place and manner five months in advance. That’s more than a bit disturbing.
- Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:31 pm:
“whether enough local law enforcement officers decide they want to show up”
Voluntary is the keyword. If you read the statement by the City you would understand …
“it is offered to Aurora Police officers to work as an extra job outside of their regularly assigned duties. Extra jobs and overtime shifts are voluntary”
“Aurora Pride informed APD that after reaching out to neighboring jurisdictions and state law enforcement agencies, they were unable to fill the additional sworn law enforcement slots needed for the overall safety of the parade”
- Proud Papa Bear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:32 pm:
And we wonder why police were asked to not march in the parade.
- SWIL_Voter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
I fondly remember the COVID lock down protests. If the laws didn’t apply to those, they shouldn’t apply to the pride parade. Forget the cops and the mayor. Host the parade
- Rabid - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
Irvin needs to call in the guard
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:38 pm:
-Voluntary is the keyword. If you read the statement by the City you would understand …-
I understand perfectly. And if presented to them, a judge or judges might agree that this places a de facto restriction on the content of the speech and the subject of the assembly. If the cops don’t like it, they don’t show up and the event gets cancelled.
It calls the city’s entire policy into Constitutional question. Let’s see if someone takes it there. Looks like a losing fight for the city to me.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:41 pm:
Napolitano? who is always on Fox News? no surprise.
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:42 pm:
When gubernatorial candidate Irvin loses this race, can he just go back to being Mayor Irvin again and the citizens of Aurora be cool with that? Isn’t he losing a lot of the folks who voted for him as mayor?
- Middle of the Road - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:42 pm:
==The Tough on Crime Defense Attorney==
@AlfondoGonz
It is more common than you might think.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:46 pm:
The chronology:
1. Aurora Pride Parade organizers ask officers to march out of uniform
2. Irvin boycotts parade
3. Aurora PD posts on social with a rainbow badge touting their commitment to LGBTQ outreach
4. Aurora PD, less than one day later, advises the Pride Parade get canceled because they “can’t guarantee safety.”
- Huh? - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:48 pm:
“Republican attorney general candidate: ‘Where they do not enforce the law, we will enforce only the laws we like. If we don’t like a law, it’ll be the wild west out there.”
Fixed it for ya.
- get real - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:52 pm:
Aurora PD sounds like a dirty protection racket
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:52 pm:
I missed the part in the State Constitution where the duly elected State’s Attorneys of each county report to the Illinois Attorney General.
- Real - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:53 pm:
Isn’t he losing a lot of the folks who voted for him as mayor?
-
Ken Griffin will most likely fund his reelection campaign for mayor.. full of lies and gimmicks.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:54 pm:
Griff, your pickers broke.
You may be all the rage in the world of high finance, but as king-maker you’re AA, at best.
For the love of Pete, Darren Bailey is making this a contest.
Darren. Bailey.
- New Day - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:03 pm:
I’m about as pro LGBTQ+ as it gets and don’t agree with anything Richard Irvin or most Illinois Republicans do and say. I’ve marched in the Pride parade for decades. But I have to say I think parade organizers were wrong to ask police not to march in uniform. Why? Because the police aren’t good enough for the parade if they’re in uniform? What kind of insult is that. I think it’s great that police would be willing to march in the parade in uniform. Can someone explain why they were asked not to wear their uniforms?
- Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:09 pm:
“Can someone explain why they were asked not to wear their uniforms?”
Here’s why…
Many members of the community feel uneasy in the presence of official law enforcement vehicles, as well as uniformed officers, due to negative experiences they themselves or someone they know have had,” organizers said in a letter to police.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/police-warn-aurora-pride-parade-may-not-go-on-as-planned-without-more-officers-to-staff-event/2851657/
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:11 pm:
==Can someone explain why they were asked not to wear their uniforms?==
Start with Stonewall and work your way from there. A lot of the queer community has had a high incidence of bad interactions with uniformed officers over the decades, and it continues to the present. My understanding is that the trans community gets the brunt of it nowadays. A Pride Parade organization might look at uniformed cops marching along the same lines of the FBI tweeting out a call to celebrate and remember the life and work of Martin Luther King.
Not everything is going to meet the approval of every participant of any event, but the ones that get wide disapproval tend to get the boot.
- SWIL_Voter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:11 pm:
“ Can someone explain why they were asked not to wear their uniforms?”
Because Pride Parades originated at least partly as a result of police brutality that led to the Stonewall Riots in 1969. So pride parades exist as a means of showing the world that the violent harassers can’t win over love. To this day many in the community do not feel safe around cops. Hard to have an open inviting parade if the people being honored by the parade are afraid of getting harassed or beat up
- SWIL_Voter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:12 pm:
It ain’t free speech if you can only say the stuff the cops agree with
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:14 pm:
-Can someone explain why they were asked not to wear their uniforms?-
The organizing group said it was because some in their community had prior negative experiences with police. Given the history, I don’t doubt this. Why is there a Pride Month, and why is it in June? To commemorate the beginning of the modern Gay Rights Movement after Stonewall, in June 1969 where innocent people were senselessly beaten by the NYPD. While hopefully no one in Aurora’s PD has engaged in such behavior, true support for that community by them might see them being a little more understanding and accomomdating, with perhaps a little awareness of history.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:17 pm:
== Isn’t he losing a lot of the folks who voted for him as mayor? ==
Nah
Everyone who ran against him the last time ran against him from the left. It kind of makes the ‘lifelong liberal democrat’ stuff kind of funny, tbh. One of his opponents (their website was still up last week) was talking primarily about green energy.
Local elections in Aurora normally have a low turnout rate. Like 13,000 votes cast in the last Mayors race.
You could make an argument that the Beacon-News is incapable or uninterested in looking into candidates unless someone hands them oppo-research and that will come into play next time.
The next municipal election for mayor is 2015. No one is going to care or remember much by then. If anything is going to stick with folks is how folks badmouthed Aurora and he might get some sympathy for that.
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:17 pm:
Re DeVore, I don’t remember him asking for money in those suits, so not sure what settlement the girlfriend could have possibly received. And because of sovereign immunity you generally cannot be awarded money by the circuit court in any event.
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:22 pm:
Reading about Tom DeVore’s exploits…skeezy.
- New Day - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:23 pm:
Thanks, Ron. I do understand that history. But I also know cops have been marching in uniform in other pride parades for a long time including locally. Seems that this is an issue that just popped up this year and even SF Pride is backing down on the outright ban.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-02/san-francisco-pride-parade-allow-some-uniformed-police
- New Day - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:24 pm:
“You could make an argument that the Beacon-News is incapable or uninterested in looking into candidates unless someone hands them oppo-research and that will come into play next time.”
Yea, that’s kind of how that works most places. Press likes oppo served up in nice, neat packages and not just in Aurora.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:25 pm:
“Although both individuals are consenting adults”
Illinois technically still has an adultery law on the books.
720 ILCS 5/11-35
If the Champaign PD could harass that kid over the flag burning law still on the books, I see no reason this law on the books can’t be applied to Devore or at least his girlfriend. Let them work it out in court.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:28 pm:
“This is in addition to his decade and a half long career representing sexual predators and wife beaters.”
Now we know what National Enquirer writers do after they retire.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:33 pm:
-Seems that this is an issue that just popped up this year-
Yes, and while some might think the request is unreasonable, I’m not sure I am in a position to judge. Seems like a reasonable compromise was worked out, but the fact that Aurora has apparently delegated their responsibility to allow peaceable assemblies in their city to whether the police want to do it or not is problematic. Their job is to guarantee rights, not just if they feel like it.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:38 pm:
==Yea, that’s kind of how that works most places. Press likes oppo served up in nice, neat packages and not just in Aurora. ==
The thing is they used to be much better at it. Under the previous mayor, there were a couple of situations that seemed to call for a bit of ‘adversarial’ reporting or at least a bit of questioning and it didn’t happen. In general, they kind of gave up on digging a while back.
We had a Township Clerk have an issue with their law license, they reported on the two other local lawyers who were in the ARDC report and missed the lawyer in it who was the clerk.
- JM - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:57 pm:
There is no constitutional issue here.
Before the uniform issue arose, APD told the parade organizers that they needed X number of security in order to be allowed to have the parade. Same rules that apply to anyone else.
APD is not legally required to force officers to work security.
Parade organizers had the opportunity to look for other security staff but failed to get anyone to do so.
The first amendment does not include the right to force police to work security for a parade.
The only people at fault here are the parade organizers, for insulting the very people they would need to make their parade happen.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 5:01 pm:
We believe in and support the right to freedom of speech, unless you hurt a cop’s fee-fees.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 5:16 pm:
-APD is not legally required to force officers to work security-
The city has a responsibility to permit lawful activities in their jurisdiction without undue burdens. Perhaps they need more civic resources rather than delegating their duty to permit such assemblies?
-Parade organizers had the opportunity to look for other security staff but failed to get anyone to do so.-
Hmmm, why might that be?
-The first amendment does not include the right to force police to work security for a parade.-
No, but it also may not support forcing people to purchase security that’s not available because the only security option disagrees with the views to be expressed.
-for insulting the very people they would need to make their parade happen.-
Makes one wonder what would happen if the Proud Boys sought a permit…
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 5:16 pm:
=The only people at fault here are the parade organizers, for insulting the very people they would need to make their parade happen.=
You’re admitting an infringement on 1A just by saying that. Not a great place to be for the municipality, giving cops veto power over what speech can be said in the public square. Also, if they’re that thin-skinned, maybe they shouldn’t be cops in the first place
- JM - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 5:27 pm:
-APD is not legally required to force officers to work security-
The city has a responsibility to permit lawful activities in their jurisdiction without undue burdens. Perhaps they need more civic resources rather than delegating their duty to permit such assemblies?
(As to the first sentence if your comment, if a group wants to shut down a major street for a parade, it is not an “undue burden” for that group to pay the costs for security. As to the second sentence, Google translate cannot decipher gibberish.)
-Parade organizers had the opportunity to look for other security staff but failed to get anyone to do so.-
Hmmm, why might that be?
(If you have an argument to make, this would be the place to do it.)
-The first amendment does not include the right to force police to work security for a parade.-
No, but it also may not support forcing people to purchase security that’s not available because the only security option disagrees with the views to be expressed.
(Again, Google translate cannot decipher gibberish.
-for insulting the very people they would need to make their parade happen.-
Makes one wonder what would happen if the Proud Boys sought a permit…
(Why are you talking about the Proud Boys when the issue is the Aurora Pride Parade — T think your Prevagen has stopped working.)
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 5:58 pm:
Catanzara is a Trump Republican, and Erin Jones is a Republican masquerading as a Democrat. That’s been the playbook in this area for the Republicans for years. I’m angry that they think we’re that stupid. If you’re a Republican, run as one. Don’t be afraid of who you are. Your lying disqualifies you as far as I’m concerned. So does your association with Catanzara.
- Bob Meter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 6:07 pm:
Governor Pritzker should order the Illinois State Police to provide troopers for this parade.
- David Thompson - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 6:13 pm:
Irvin is always trying to be on all sides of every issue since he apparently stands for nothing.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 6:38 pm:
-Governor Pritzker should order the Illinois State Police to provide troopers for this parade.-
I don’t know about ordering but it might be worth his while to drum up some volunteers and pay for their time to stick it to Irvin. What’s he going to do, deem them unacceptable?
Also I’m sure the ACLU already has the complaint “in the can” to let fly the moment the City takes action to curtail the parade. They warned them last week.
- Proud Papa Bear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 7:52 pm:
Nice touch for the Aurora PD to Tweet this out with their logo in rainbow colors /s
- Leslie K - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 8:42 pm:
===If you’re a Republican, run as one. Don’t be afraid of who you are. Your lying disqualifies you as far as I’m concerned. So does your association with Catanzara.===
Totally agree, PublicServant.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 9:21 pm:
===* Irvin promises not to close Pontiac prison in visit to Pontiac…===
Who is trying to close Pontiac prison?