Rep. Curtis Tarver II | Facebook
Rep. Curtis Tarver II | Facebook
A bill is proposing that state representatives and senators from Illinois be given the authority to perform duties reserved for police officers.
State Rep. Curtis Tarver II (D-Chicago) is sponsoring the bill. If passed it will enable senators and state representatives to perform the following duties:
· Arrest or be given cause to arrest, with or without process, individuals who break the peace or are found violating any municipal ordinance or any criminal law of the state
· Commit arrested individuals for examination
· Detain arrested individuals over night or over Sunday in any safe venue until they can be brought to the proper court
· Exercise all other powers as conservators of the peace prescribed by the state and corporate authorities
As of now the bill is in committee. Unsurprisingly, many people are wary of supporting such a bill.
State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-) is a vocal opponent of the bill. He said that passing this bill into law could be dangerous. He says even with the best intentions, this bill could be a slippery slope for lawmakers, and giving senators or state representatives the power to arrest anyone may prompt them to arrest people they do not “agree with politically.”
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