SE Illinois News

State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is convinced the state’s growing problems lead back to the same starting place.

“We simply have bad leadership,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “I think it’s very concerning for any kind of society to suggest you don’t need law and order as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Mayor has done.”

And when it comes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Bailey argues his position has been just as shaky.

“He doesn’t know what he wants to say or do on the issue and that’s not leadership either,” he said. 

The movement to do away with police departments has been sweeping the country ever since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, leading to protests and violence across the country. Minneapolis City Council members were among the first to broach the possibility of permanently doing away with their city's Police Department, and the idea quickly gained the support of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and more recently the leaders of the Chicago Public Schools.

Bailey said he sees it all as coming down to a simple case of accountability.

“Illinois is a union state and when unions do not hold people accountable or discipline them, eventually things catch up to you,” he said. “Overall, I believe that is the root of our problem, a lack of discipline. The officer in the Floyd killing had a bad record that hadn’t been dealt with because the union’s position is to protect, protect. What we’ve got to do, and I believe I’m doing it in state government, is stand up and do what’s right.”

Bailey said he thinks Lightfoot now calling for all police officers in Illinois to be licensed is just more political grandstanding.

“It’s a very bad idea for a state that really doesn’t do a great job with the regulatory system it already has in place,” he said. “It just opens the door to more corruption.”