First Impact of House Bill 3653 Beginning to be Felt in Law Enforcement Community

The passage of House Bill 3653 by the Illinois General Assembly and its signing into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker raised concerns by many in the law enforcement community.

The first effects of the legislation is beginning to be felt.

A group of law enforcement associations has written to the Illinois Law Enforcement Standards and Training Board. The associations are asking for action by the Board on training guidelines to meet the requirements of the legislation. The law mandates additional training on crisis intervention, use of force, de-escalation techniques and other subjects. To date, the training guidelines are not in place. The first deadline is July 1. 

The leaders of the organizations...the Illinois Sheriffs Association, the Illinois FOP Labor Council, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Illinois FOP State Lodge, the Illinois FOP Chicago Lodge 7, and the Illinois Troopers Lodge...point out that the Training Board under the new law has the responsibility to issue standards for these trainings, and to adopt rules and minimum standards for the training mandates.

The letter also notified the Training Board's Executive Director Brent Fischer that the organizations intend to hold the Training Board accountable for any failure to fulfill its obligations.