by Illinois Attorney General’s Office
The Times Weekly Newswire
Joliet city officials and the Joliet Police Department (JPD) are responding to a report released today by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. The report includes findings from a three-year investigation initiated by former Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk, with support from several council members, who invited the Attorney General’s office to open the investigation following the tragic death of Eric Lurry after his arrest by JPD officers in 2020.
City officials contend that the report does not reflect current law enforcement policies, procedures, and operations.
According to Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans, the report does not reflect the current state of the department. “This is not the Joliet Police Department of , but rather a picture of the past. Since the onset of the investigation, we have fully cooperated with the Attorney General’s Office. We provided them with unfettered access to all available information because we wanted to be as transparent as possible. In reading the report, we respectfully disagree with some of the conclusions drawn from their investigation.”
Evans points to the significant changes that have taken place in recent years. “We have new leadership in both the mayor’s office and the city manager’s office, and they support the direction this department has taken since the Attorney General’s Office became involved,” Evans explained. “I’ve been chief for two and a half years and have directed the most experienced and diverse command staff to make the changes needed to move the department forward.”
At a recent city council meeting, Evans highlighted the department’s success in reducing crime across nearly all categories. The department has a 92% success rate in closing homicide cases—one of the highest in the region. This was accomplished through our partnership with citizens and community policing efforts.
Since 2021, Evans stated, the department has made numerous improvements in key areas of police operations. “We’re proud to have updated over 90 policies regarding overall operations, including police accountability, transparency, and oversight. This department far exceeds all state-mandated training, and we’ve upgraded our technology and equipment, including outfitting all our officers with body-worn cameras to increase accountability and oversight.”
In late June, JPD and city officials hosted the city’s first-ever Public Safety Forum to address concerns raised by the community and facilitate meaningful interaction between police officials and residents. This was an opportunity to build trust and legitimacy with our community. “We take community engagement seriously and have implemented a program to gauge community sentiment.
The program, which was rolled out in late August, is a post-survey sent to citizens who call 911 for various types of service. The findings showed an overall satisfaction rate exceeding 85%, with citizens reporting positive views of the agency, the way they were treated, and the respect they were given. To better reflect the diversity of the Joliet community, the department has also increased diversity in the hiring of both sworn and non-sworn personnel.”
Evans acknowledges that there is always room for improvement but supports the department’s rank and file, stating that the report mischaracterizes the department. “It is unclear what evidence or metrics were used to draw the conclusions in the final report. Some of the evidence cited dates back to 2017, nearly a decade ago, and does not reflect how we operate today. The Attorney General’s Office acknowledges the department’s progress and cooperation. Our department will continue to collaborate with the Attorney General’s Office to make meaningful changes and strive to make Joliet Police operations the gold standard in Illinois.”
Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy also expressed support for the men and women in the department who put their lives on the line every day. “This report was initiated under the prior administration, when relations between City Hall and the Police Department were tenuous at best. This is a new day in Joliet, and we are making significant changes in how we work together to serve our residents. Joliet has some of the finest and most dedicated individuals, who put their lives on the line every day to protect residents and property. We will continue to move forward and leave this chapter of city operations in the past.”
