SE Illinois News

State Rep. Pat Windhorst (R-Metropolis) recently held a news conference where he urged lawmakers to follow his lead in supporting proposed legislation that would prevent arsonists from becoming fire department personnel in the state of Illinois.

State Rep. David Friess has filed legislation sponsored by Windhorst and state Rep. Mark Luft (Pekin) that requires anyone applying to be a firefighter in a municipal fire department or fire protection district to disclose whether they have been arrested for, or convicted of, arson. It also allows a person or board making a hiring decision to consider the applicant’s criminal history.

“Arson is a serious crime that carries stiff penalties, especially when there are multiple instances involving aggravating circumstances,” Windhorst said.

The legislation comes after the promotion of Jerame Simmons to fire chief of the the Prairie Du Port Fire Department. Simmons was convicted of arson 20 years ago. Simmons served probation and has since been pardoned by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Windhorst explained that he is a former prosecutor in Masaac County and has prosecuted cases of all kinds, and that includes arson and aggravated arson. He said was speaking in support of the efforts of Friess and Luft, as they “work to increase transparency” when hiring personnel. He said local fire departments deserve to know that the person applying to fight fires isn’t someone who has been convicted of starting fires intentionally.

“Requiring applicants to disclose their relevant criminal history as a part of the application process to become a firefighter just makes good old plain common sense,” Windhorst said.

“I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to recognize the urgent need for this legislation to move forward during this deadline week and allow this bill to get assigned, called to committee, and ultimately join us in sending House Bill 5693 to the governor's desk," he said.