Chambana Sun

Even as he agrees some changes may be warranted, veteran state Rep. Darren Caulkins (R-Decatur) is firm in his assertion that a complete overhaul of the police system is not what’s needed.

“I think that should be a total nonstarter,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “Maybe we need to use some of our funds to do things a little differently, things like more training, more body cameras to make our communities safer, but talk of defunding police is totally inappropriate.”

The movement to do away with police departments has been sweeping the country since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, leading to protests and violence across the country. Minneapolis City Council members were among the first to broach the possibility of permanently doing away with their city's Police Department, and the idea quickly gained the support of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and more recently the leaders of the Chicago Public Schools.

Caulkins said he finds it quite telling that even people who live in higher crime areas continue to want police protection.

“I think all of this is coming from a radical element in society that’s pushing an agenda that does not have the best interest of any majority at heart,” he said. “At the end of the day, we settle our differences at the ballot box. We’re now seeing an effort to by some to enforce their will through intimidation, riots or anything else.”

Caulkins said he also views Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s push to require all officers across Illinois to be licensed by the state as impractical.

“I don’t understand the mayor’s position,” he said. “Why would you want to license a police officer who has gone through training at the academy and upon hire is already under a strict supervision period? I don’t know why she thinks this will have an effect, Maybe it’s just another way to tax people.”

In any event, Caulkins said he’s convinced Lightfoot has set her focus on the wrong thing.

“To me, it just seems to be a knee-jerk reaction and no real attempt to solve the problems in her community,” he said. “Hundreds of killings are happening across the city and this is what she wants to zero in on. Instead of standing up and lecturing people, she should be focused on solving the serious crime problems in Chicago that she was elected to deal with.”