Cunningham honors fallen firefighters at annual memorial service

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Bill Cunningham joined firefighters and their families from across the state today for the 25th annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial at the Capitol.

The Illinois Firefighter Memorial is dedicated to the firefighters of Illinois, who have given their lives in the line of duty and to those firefighters who heroically serve with courage, pride and honor. The Line of Duty Death Award is given to the family of a firefighter deceased in, or as a result of, the performance of their duty. In addition to firefighters and fire officials, the event features the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Honor Guard and Pipes & Drums.

This year, State Fire Marshall Matt Perez honored two firefighters: John “Mike” Cummins of the Homer Fire Protection District and Lawrence Matthews of the Dolton Fire Department.

Cunningham announces state grants for local libraries

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State Jesse White has awarded more than $15 million in funding to libraries statewide through Illinois Public Library Per Capita grants to help with such expenses as materials, personnel, equipment, electronic access, telecommunications and technology.

“Since the time Abe Lincoln taught himself to be a lawyer, libraries have been a pillar of our community,” Cunningham said. “These grant will allow them to continue that important role.”

 Libraries in Cunningham’s district will receive almost $275,000 in funding through the grants. The following Southwest Suburban libraries will receive funds:

Cunningham passes measure designed to curb carjackers

SPRINGFIELD - In the wake of a steep hike in the number of carjacking incidents in Chicago, the Illinois Senate took action this week to close a loophole carjackers have used to avoid prosecution and to ensure young offenders are sent to juvenile detention when arrested for carjacking incidents.

Under the current law, an officer may only pursue auto theft charges if the person driving the car has “knowledge that the vehicle is stolen.” As a result, car thieves routinely avoid accountability by denying that they have any knowledge that the vehicle is stolen.

State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat representing Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs, is a chief co-sponsor of the legislation, Senate Bill 2339, which would allow police officers the ability infer based on surrounding facts and circumstances that an individual in possession of a stolen vehicle has knowledge that the vehicle is stolen.

The measure would also help ensure minors charged with carjacking are detained. A recent report in the Chicago Sun-Times showed that most juvenile carjacking suspects are released to their parents or on electronic monitoring within 24 hours of arrest. SB 2339 would curtail that practice.

“Violent offenders, regardless of their age, should not be able to escape accountability by lying to an officer about the source of their stolen vehicle,” Cunningham said. “Carjackers are aware that this outdated law allows a brazen lie to become a get out of jail free card. It’s time to put a stop to it.”

To discourage youth from starting on the path to carjacking, SB 2339 would require that minors charged with vehicular hijacking, aggravated vehicular hijacking, or possession of a stolen vehicle, to be held for a detention hearing within 40 hours of being detained. If the court finds probable cause that the minor committed the crime, the minor would be held for a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, which would be used along with other factors to decide if the minor should be further detained, or receive counseling or other necessary services.

“Too often, minors who commit vehicular theft are arrested and released with no determination being made as to whether or not they are a danger to their community or their own well-being,” Cunningham said. “This bill will end that practice.”

SB 2339 passed the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.

Senate approves Cunningham’s plan to end Chicago police quotas

Springfield – The City of Chicago would be prohibited from requiring police officers to fulfill ticket quotas and assessing officers based on the number of tickets they issue under legislation passed out of the Illinois Senate today.

The legislation, Senate Bill 3509, is sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat representing Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs.

SB 3509 would rescind the City of Chicago’s exemption from a 2014 law banning counties and municipalities from assigning ticket quotas and using the number of tickets an officer issues as a performance evaluation. The law made exemptions for municipalities with their own independent inspectors general and law enforcement review authorities.

“Policing should not be used as a revenue enhancement strategy by municipalities,” Cunningham said. “This bill will ensure our officers are not distracted from their regular law enforcement duties in order to meet ticket quotas.”

Supporters of the legislation, such as the Fraternal Order of Police, argue that ticket quotas create unnecessary tension between law enforcement and the communities they serve by interfering with officers’ ability to exercise compassion in certain situations.

SB 3509 passed out of the Senate and now moves to the House for consideration.