SE Illinois News

Republican state House candidate David Friess is rejecting the building defund the police movement as just more elements of a far-left agenda.

“My thoughts on the defund of the police movement is that it shouldn't happen,” Friess, now running against incumbent state Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-Steeleville) in the 116th District, told the SE Illinois News. “I believe the vast majority of the police in America are extremely professional and potentially put their lives in harm's way every time they report for their shift. If an individual office, or perhaps an entire department, is in need of additional training, they should receive that training. Locally, I don't believe our community police should be defunded because Chicago politicians and rioters are pushing for it.”

The movement to do away with police departments has been sweeping the country 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 the leaders of the Chicago Public Schools.

Friess said he views much of what’s being proposed by some lawmakers as just political grandstanding, including an idea endorsed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot that would mandate that every officer be licensed.

“I believe the idea floated by Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot was actually just proposed in an attempt to appease the radical wing of the Democrat Party,” he added. “It is my understanding, at a minimum, every law enforcement officer in Illinois goes through the academy before he or she is hired. In addition, once hired by a department, the officer may undergo additional training mandated by that specific department before the office is put out on patrol, and the officer will also undergo periodic training. “

In the end, Friess said he believes what reforms are needed can only be based on the individual departments within the state.

“Again, I am of the opinion that the vast majority of the police in America, including Illinois, are extremely professional and carry out their law enforcement duties and responsibilities without incident,” he said. “With that being said, I believe we can always do better and should strive to do so.”