Illinois State Senator Jason Plummer said on April 27 that there has been ‘more blood and mayhem due to the SAFE-T Act and other soft on crime policies.’ Plummer’s statement follows the fatal shooting of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew and the critical wounding of his partner at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in the Ravenswood neighborhood this past weekend. The incident involved a suspect who was reportedly an absconder from parole and electronic monitoring supervision, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records, as detailed in a Facebook post by Plummer.
The topic is significant as it highlights ongoing debates about criminal justice reforms, pretrial release, and public safety in Illinois. According to Plummer, ‘A 38-year old (husband & father) Chicago Police Department officer was killed and his 57 year old partner was critically wounded this weekend because policies like the SAFE-T Act and a soft on crime criminal justice system allowed a violent, murderous thug to be on the streets when he should have been behind bars. This person was clearly a menace to society and a ticking time bomb. We need elected officials and judges who prioritize keeping families and communities safe.’
The suspect, Alphanso Talley, had a documented history of violent felonies dating back to 2017 including multiple armed robbery convictions for which he received concurrent seven-year prison sentences. In 2021 Talley was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and sentenced to three years. Just one year prior to the hospital shooting Talley faced Class X felony charges for aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and armed robbery yet was released from Chicago Police Department custody within days of that April 2025 arrest, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Chicago police data and court records show that repeat offenders released under pretrial and parole policies continue to cycle through the system with multiple violent arrests prior to new serious charges. The 55th Senate District represented by Plummer includes portions of Madison and surrounding counties where public safety remains a top concern for residents and law enforcement amid ongoing discussions about criminal justice reforms. Plummer serves as Republican Caucus Chair in the Illinois Senate and has consistently advocated for policies focused on keeping violent offenders incarcerated, according to information from the Illinois General Assembly.
Plummer is a businessman and former naval officer who owns R P Lumber Company. He was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 2018 and now represents the 55th District which covers all or parts of Bond, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Richland, St Clair, and Washington counties. He was named Republican Caucus Chair in 2026 after previously serving as Assistant Republican Leader according to his official website.
