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Walker, Wolff talk law enforcement

Posted April 20, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

STEELEVILLE -- While poking a little bit of fun at their professions, Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff and State's Attorney Jeremy Walker also tackled some important issues during Wednesday's Regional Leaders Breakfast at the Steeleville American Legion.

Wolff and Walker were the event's keynote speakers and spoke on the importance of law enforcement in the county. At least seven different agencies were in attendance for the presentations.

"We don't want citizens to distrust us and not want to cooperate on investigations for fear the police are crooked," Wolff said.

While noting a "national media onslaught on police officers," Walker said the negative attention and scrutiny has caused officers nationwide to hesitate to take action for fear of litigation.

"It does trickle down from national levels to local levels," he said.

Both Walker and Wolff help orchestrate Law Day in the county. Usually held on the first Friday in May, the event brings high school students to the Randolph County Courthouse to understand the functions of the different offices there.

The students also participate as jurors in a mock trial, with Walker as prosecutor. Walker explained how the different ways evidence is presented can result in different outcomes during the mock trial.

"People have a demand now to see physical evidence," Walker said. "If you don't have that, the jurors say it's a 'he said, she said.'"

Wolff and Walker also spoke on body cameras and the challenge they present in law enforcement in the county.

In August, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a body cameras bill that was hailed by state lawmakers as the most comprehensive in the country.

It established statewide standards on using the equipment, as well as expanded guidelines for the use of force and requires independent investigations into all officer-involved deaths.

"It's not easy to equip these officers with cameras and microphones and for these smaller communities, they can't afford it," Wolff said.

Walker echoed that sentiment.

"I think everybody wants to see body cameras, but how would we afford it?" Walker asked. "The money's just not there."

Walker and Wolff moved on to staffing and the limitations of the shorthanded sheriff's office.

"It does draw out the process, but everything still gets done," Walker said.

The limited personnel also affects drug investigations.

"It's definitely a taxing job to govern all these informants," Wolff said. "It takes time and it takes money. It's a lot of man hours."

Wolff noted that in an "ideal world," the sheriff's office would have two or three deputies specifically assigned to drug cases.

"We tried and tried to do it, but the money's just not there," Walker said.

Lastly, the pair covered the different types of drugs in the county and how prescription drug abuse can lead to harder drugs.

"It typically starts with prescription drug abuse, so keep those locked up," Walker said.

Walker also spoke animatedly against a discussion in the state legislature to make simple drug possession offenses misdemeanors in order to combat the overcrowding of Illinois prisons.

"We tell people every day in that courtroom that you can either go get help, or you end up in prison or dead," said Walker, who has previously expressed numerous times his distaste for drug offenders receiving multiple probations.

"We are absolutely here to help...to a point," Walker later said. "After we get to that point where we've tried to help you twice, you're going to prison.

"If we don't help that person where we're giving them probation after probation, they're still going to be stealing from your farm, they're still going to be breaking into your house."

Walker advised the county's citizens to "be vigilant."

"If you see something, call it in," he said.

Roundup

• April Nail, Randolph County CEO facilitator, gave an update on the Randolph County CEO class. The class is scheduled to have a trade show on May 13, with more information to be released.

"The students will be able to showcase what they've been working on to launch their businesses," Nail said.

• Jody Lauf, on behalf of the Regional Leadership and Development Committee, presented scholarships to Chester High School's Melissa Crosby and Sparta High School's Allison Ashbrook.

The pair each wrote an essay on the positive impact of law enforcement in the county. Crosby noted that as a grade schooler, she set up a lemonade stand in front of her house to earn money and officers would stop by and often leave a generous tip.

• The Jim Heil Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held on June 3 at White Oak Golf Course in Marissa.

During the past 25 years, the Jim Heil Career and Technical Education Scholarship fund has awarded more than $125,000 in scholarships to deserving students in the Okaw Regional Vocational System.

The proceeds from the golf tournament will help fund the scholarships. For more information, contact Jim Heil at 618-920-8059.

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