Homer Glen, IL…State Representative Patrick Sheehan, a nearly 20-year law enforcement officer, issued the following statement today after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to revoke federal funding from jurisdictions that refuse to comply with ending cash bail:
“As someone who has spent almost two decades on the front lines of law enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous the revolving door of cashless bail has become. Illinois was the first state to eliminate cash bail, and since then, countless communities have suffered the consequences—violent offenders walking free, victims retraumatized, and officers re-arresting the same criminals again and again. This is chaos.
I applaud the decisive action to end this reckless experiment. The President’s executive order restores accountability and prioritizes public safety over political agendas. Communities deserve to know that when dangerous individuals are arrested, they will not be immediately released back into our neighborhoods. Law enforcement officers across the country have been demanding this kind of leadership, and today, we have it.
Now that the President’s executive order has been handed down, I urge Governor Pritzker and House Democrats to open conversations with our Caucus. The House Republicans have a tremendous amount of insight and experience from law-enforcement officers like myself and former prosecutors as well. We’re losing federal funding because of this reckless policy so it’s about time we sit down together and make it right.”
Rep. Sheehan has been a leading advocate against Illinois’ SAFE-T Act and its elimination of cash bail, warning for years that the law would embolden criminals and undermine the safety of Illinois residents.
Rep. Sheehan proudly serves the people of the 37th District.