On Feb. 22, Gov., J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 3653, the controversial criminal justice reform bill that was rammed through the General Assembly during lame-duck session earlier this year.

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), a vocal opponent to the legislation, issued the following statement following the Governor’s actions:

“With the Governor signing House Bill 3653, I stand united with the thousands of law enforcement professionals across the state who opposed this blatantly anti-police bill and who continue to voice their concerns about the impact this law will have on our police community.

“While supporters of the legislation highlight a couple of positive aspects, it’s clear that they didn’t bring law enforcement to the table to hear their input on the ramifications buried within the nearly 800 page proposal.​​

“The so-called criminal justice reform measure was passed in the early hours of the morning, without the involvement of law enforcement, without Republican input and with no time for analysis or discussion. The proposal remains widely unfavorable among state’s attorneys, sheriffs, and local police departments.

“While I am open to discussing criminal justice reform, the process by which this sweeping overhaul was passed was unacceptable, reckless, and irresponsible. By signing this bill, the Governor has made Illinois a less safe place to live and made the job of a police officer significantly more difficult.”