Law enforcement veteran Michael Letts believes that its provisions are dangerous for police officers and crime victims.
Illinois’ new reform bill has just been activated, but many law officials in the state are questioning its wisdom.
The bill is known as Illinois’ Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, or SAFE-T for short. It has a number of “relaxed” rules in place. For instance, a would-be defendant can actually leave home for 48 hours without electronic monitoring before being charged with escape, and limitations on whether or not they can be flight risks. There are other “little things” as well, but they all add up to a world of trouble for police officers and victims of criminal acts.
Franklin County Sheriff Kyle Bacon recently talked to Fox News about the new law, and how much trouble it’s causing. “Trying to sift through a thousand pages to determine where our role is and what’s going to change and how we can best serve the citizens that we protect has been first and foremost to us,” he explained.
Bacon further explained how he and his team sat through “what feels like hundreds of hours of training and discussion” with the new reforms, and “there’s just so many questions that still exist.”
So how effective can a law such as this be when Illinois law enforcement aren’t quite sure how to enforce its provisions? With us now to discuss this further is Michael Letts, a veteran with over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt. Letts is president, founder and CEO of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers, through various charitable groups and sponsorships. His expertise is welcome with this subject.
Q&A:
- Even with changes to pre-trial release and bail reforms, it sounds like the SAFE-T act isn’t really working in the favor of police officers. Why do you think the state was so adamant in passing it?
- Kankakee County State Attorney Jim Rowe deems that the SAFE-T Act has “Constitutional protections afforded to the citizens of Illinois”. But did they really think through what consequences could come from trying to provide these protections? Especially if defendants slip through the cracks?
- It sounds like Sheriff Kyle Bacon has gone through a great deal of paperwork trying to understand SAFE-T’s changes. Could this be a confusing factor for fellow officers that are trying to make sense of it?
- What would’ve been a better way to enable the SAFE-T act? Perhaps smaller things to help introduce its effectiveness? Or should it be done away with entirely in favor of different kind of laws?
- Where do you see the effectiveness of SAFE-T going over the next few months? Could lawsuits possibly come as a result of it, especially as some defendants escape?
- You’re the creator of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. Tell us more about that, and why support for fellow officers is so important right now.
- We understand that InVest USA is also actively involved with Twitter. Where can interested parties learn more?
Those interested in what I do on Twitter can do so on the official Invest USA account.
About Michael Letts:
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: jerry.specialguests@gmail.com or 919-437-0001.
