Prairie State Wire

Thomas Weitzel, former Police Chief, said that the shift from defunding police to passing restrictive laws has weakened law enforcement authority. He made this statement during an interview on the Prairie State Wire Podcast.

"I consider Illinois to be one of the most anti-police legislative states in America," said Weitzel. "to defund the police...came out of the George Floyd incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota. if anyone thinks that that's died, that defund, the police has died, it's not what's happened. It's turned into gutting the police."

According to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, police reform in Illinois accelerated after the 2020 protests, culminating in the SAFE-T Act of 2021. This legislation requires body cameras for all officers, bans chokeholds, and creates new procedures for police accountability and training. The act has been both praised and criticized as lawmakers and law enforcement agencies work to balance oversight with public safety priorities.

A 2023 report from the Duke Center for Science and Justice indicates that Illinois has increased police budgets to cover costs related to reform mandates such as body cameras and training since 2020. Additionally, measures like House Bill 3653 have been enacted to strengthen misconduct reporting and decertification. These legislative actions have shifted some funding toward reform compliance rather than traditional enforcement.

Axios reports that comparative data shows Illinois’ violent crime rates have remained relatively stable statewide after the SAFE-T Act. However, major cities like Chicago have lagged in implementing reform benchmarks, achieving only about 7% of consent decree requirements, and continue to struggle with both violent crime and police response challenges. The results highlight ongoing difficulties balancing reform with effective policing.

Patch describes Thomas Weitzel as the retired Chief of Police in Riverside, Illinois, where he served 13 years as chief and 37 years in law enforcement. He is known for his commentary on police reform, concealed carry, and officer wellness. Weitzel has advocated for legislative change and served as an ambassador for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.