Illinois Valley Times

Veteran state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is open to the idea of police reform, though she draws the line with the growing defund the police rhetoric.

“I will look at all legislative proposals that come before us dealing with police reform, but talk of defunding makes no sense,” Rezin told the Illinois Valley Times. “We’ll just have to see what the legislation looks like.”

The movement to dissolve police departments across the country is growing in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. Floyd's death sparked 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.

With Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot having expressed some level of support for the defund movement, Rezin said she recognizes the state is in a difficult position.

“First off, she’s frustrated,” she said. “Plus, Chicago is a high-crime area and there are people there regularly protesting the tactics of police. “I’m just hoping any reform policies are bipartisan pieces of legislation that stop short of any talk of defunding.”

Rezin said Lightfoot also has to deal with the balancing act of making sure whatever position she takes doesn’t do too much to undermine the level of confidence she has in law enforcement.

“It’s a difficult situation for the mayor and everyone else, but one we need to take a look at,” she said. “I have confidence we’ll work through it.”