By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A group representing the cities, towns, and villages of Illinois is making its voice heard … among the Black Lives Matter protests. Brad Cole, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League, points to the “shared principles” of the Illinois NAACP and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

“These principles were cooperatively developed two years ago,” Cole said, “and we’re saying these are solid principles that communities can adopt and institute in their own police department and that their residents can know and understand that that’s how they should be treated” – with dignity and respect.

“The recent and ongoing events of civil unrest have shown everyone there is a serious need to have difficult discussions about policing within our cities, villages and towns,” said IML president Leon Rockingham, Jr., the mayor of North Chicago. ”Police department operations must be transparent and be conducted with a goal of mutual respect for everyone involved. As the elected leaders of our communities, we must take on this important responsibility and start the work necessary to not only protect our communities, but also ensure the integrity of each and every human being.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].