State leaders launch Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force

Posted on October 25, 2021
State Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), chairman of a new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force in the Illinois House, says most of us are basically good people. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – There’s now a Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force in the Illinois House. The chairman, State Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), said it’s serious business.

“Too many people,” he said, “don’t feel – or don’t understand that it is all of us against the horrible choices of a small amount of people.”

Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) said that’s all well and good, but “I think we all on both sides of the aisle agree that sometimes task forces are just committees that maybe look like we are doing something from the outside, and I really, really pray that this task force will be different and will listen to all sides.”

Ford, saying 98 percent of us obey the law, said the task force should be a good conduit for police and prosecutors.

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