New legislation reinstates the death penalty

Posted on January 26, 2022
Representative Blaine Wilhour of Effingham plans to file a bill in the house bringing back capital punishment for these crimes against law enforcement. (WJBC/Dave Dahl)

By Jake Fogal

New legislation reinstates the death penalty for those convicted of murdering a police officer in Illinois.

Representative Blaine Wilhour of Effingham plans to file a bill in the house bringing back capital punishment for these crimes against law enforcement. With 25 police officers killed in the line of duty over the past three years, he says something must be done.

“It will be known that if you come to Illinois and you commit violence against a peace officer in the line of duty, we are allowing and encouraging prosecutors to bring down the full force of the law on these people,” Wilhour said.

A similar measure has already been introduced in the senate by Louisville senator Darren Bailey.

Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].

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