Sheriff James Mendrick Is Setting The Example For National Law Enforcement

May 18, 2024

Sheriff James Mendrick Is Setting The Example For National Law Enforcement

Val Ojeda, Writer

Last week, I organized a Public Safety forum with my friend DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick. I explained the need for this forum to discuss strategies to clean up the streets by combating crime. With the rise of violent crime pushing from Chicago into the suburbs, it's vital that we come up with plans to keep our families safe.

I organized this event with candidates for the United States Congress. This meeting wasn't to discuss politics at all. Instead, I wanted these candidates to hear from Sheriff Mendrick with what's going on with the rise in crime and to discuss the necessary strategies to reduce crime and save lives.

America and Illinois are under attack. Not just from violent criminals, but from within. Our government is fueling the rise in violent crime. Look at Illinois in 2021 with the passing of HB3653 the SAFE-T ACT. 

HB3653 is a direct attack on the innocent victims of crime and our brave Police Officers. With the passing of this bill, it guaranteed more rights to the criminals first with NO CASH BAIL. The Democrats explain that murders and drug dealers are people of unforeseeable circumstances. They continue to push the narrative that the criminals have no choice to commit robberies because they come from broken homes or poor schooling? So today if you were to commit a murder there will be a chance you will be freed without paying a bail. Instead, they want a promise you will appear in court with your word.

Our Police are today mandated to become licensed like a barber. If you make a simple mistake, you will have your certification taken away. Today Police Officers will be required to wear body cameras and failure to do so a Police Officer may be charged with a crime for not doing so.

This year the Democrat controlled Illinois General Assembly wanted to pass legislation to eliminate traffic stops by the Police for minor offenses. I was able to shut that down personally. The legislation became dead. It never moved forward. 

However, this Wednesday the States Attorneys of Cook County initiated a directive to all Police agencies in Cook County undermining state law and the Illinois Vehicle Code by creating a policy for officers not to conduct traffic stops unless the driver was a threat to public safety. Any cases or tickets going to courts will be automatically dropped by her authority.

So an officer CANNOT pull you over anywhere in Cook County for no plates or seat belt violations and more, including speeding. If an officer takes it up on self to make a stop anyway and discovers a kilo of cocaine and drugs, SA Foxx explained charges will NOT be authorized. 

Yes, this is the world we are living in now. The criminals have more rights than innocent citizens. 

Therefore it was important to address these problems with new ideas to defeat the liberal agenda that wants to defund and even eliminate the Police. It's important that we recall HB3653 and get tough on crime.

One of the candidates that attended the forum was John Booras for United States Congress for the 3rd District and this is his plan to combat crime at a federal level. 

BOORAS FEDERAL LEGISLATION FOR SAFE STREETS//////

BOORAS POLICE /FEDERAL PROSECUTION PACT: (BILL)

This bill will order the U. S. Department of Justice and U. S. Attorneys with federal funding to said agencies to accept local arrests when they are deemed necessary when local States Attorneys may not prosecute homicides, drug crimes, human trafficking and more offenses when they have exhausted all efforts like in Cook County under SA Kim Fox. At times, it would be necessary to prosecute at the federal level to enforce more jail time or up to the death penalty, which Illinois has banned. This bill would include having Assistant U. S. Attorneys detailed to States Attorneys Offices, State Attorney General Offices and State Appellate Prosecutors Offices to receive complaints, provide federal warrants/writs/subpoenas. They are to be made available to fast track federal grand juries. This bill authorizes a budget to hire federal prosecutor investigators, whose sole duty is to assist local police. This bill also instructs the United States Marshal of a district to deputize on demand by a federal prosecutor certain local Police/sheriffs/deputies/constables/special investigators/parole agents/bailiffs/corrections officers to give them FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POWERS in cases of investigations, task force operations, undercover stings and national or local emergencies. Certain officers will be compensated 2 for 1 court hours for federal court testimonies or a call for grand jury testimony.

BOORAS ANTI-CARTEL INTERCEPTION ACT: (BILL)

"Operation Safe Streets" 

This bill would combat the flow of DRUGS, GUNS, CASH and HUMAN TRAFFICKING and by interdiction on our highways. The focus would be to combat the flow of dangerous drugs flooding into Illinois, contributing to 20,000 overdose calls a year in Illinois alone. Congress would pass this bill to provide funding to the Department of justice to distribute to local Sheriff's/task forces/S and special investigators to patrol the highway/tollways in their jurisdictions in their respective counties to assist the Illinois State Police for the sole purpose of DRUG Suppression including the flow of GUNS, CASH and HUMAN TRAFFICKING. This bill will include using federal resources from federal law enforcement agencies such as surveillance airplanes, helicopters, drones, electronic interceptions and the use of federal agents and other federal investigators or specialists to conduct surveillance for the purpose of arrests and prosecutions. Local Police and Sheriffs may be deputized by the United States Marshall and given FEDERAL ARREST POWERS to conduct various operations and investigations going across state lines. 

BOORAS CORRECTIONS OFFICERS SAFETY ACT: (BILL)

This bill would instruct the Department of Justice to provide federal funding to Illinois State Corrections Officers and other Sheriff's Corrections Officers for particular uniforms and allowances, protective equipment, body armor, training, and an allowance for weapons for their work, including firearms. This bill would also instruct the Department of Defense to provide any surplus equipment to said officers and not the agency. Certain funds may be available directly from the Department of Justice directly upon application. However, more funds will be made available to the Illinois Department of Corrections for the sole use of CORRECTIONS OFFICERS only. The U. S. Bureau of Prisons will also provide training with a FEDERAL NATIONAL ACADEMY provided to certain selected officers at the FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER. This bill would authorize through INTERSTATE COMPACT the ability of using officers from other states to assist with federal funding in times of emergencies paid for by federal funding.

These laws are necessary to combat crime in the streets but yet after our visit with Sheriff Mendrick it came to me that we can stop most crime cold by rehabilitation in the jails and the prisons.

Allow me to explain.

Sheriff Mendrick is the first sheriff in history to institute a plan to rehabilitate inmates from his county jail. Not the Illinois Department of Corrections but his jail that houses inmates in pretrial detention and convictions of crimes for sentences less than a year. 

Let's begin with discovering who James Mendrick is. He's been sheriff the last seven years, going on his second term. He's loved in DuPage County and the rest of Illinois. Furthermore, he has outreached to the Latinos, blacks, Asians, Arabs and Indians and more attending and speaking at their events. 

Mendrick also is very proactive with victims of domestic violence, mental health and every month he delivers several thousands of meals to the hungry. His last campaign fundraiser he dedicated a large portion of it towards Police recruiting. Amazing! 

At the forum we began with a round table with Mendrick, Chief of the jail Mark Garcia and Michael Beary the Executive Director of the Inmate Outreach Mendrick developed.

The program consists of screened inmates that voluntarily want to become members of the program to learn the trades.

The DuPage County Jail works in a partnership with the College of Dupage offering educational trades training. The programs operate for a half million dollars with funding coming from the college, which certifies and offers graduations upon completing their skill training. 

This is the first program that offers this skills training, which includes job placement and offers a program for gardening to provide food for the homeless. They actually have a green house in the jail in a former ward housing unit. Because the program is such a success, inmates were replaced with food to feed the hungry. Outside sitting on an acre, they are growing ten thousand pounds of food and flowers for victims of domestic violence 

The trades programs consist of programs such as welding and small engine repair, with shops and equipment to learn with. They also receive certifications for future employment opportunities.

Another program is the first in the country. It's a unit that removes inmates gang tattoos upon request, even offering a tattoo artist to cover gang tattoos free of charge. This saves lives by itself by eliminating gang identification.

Later I had the privilege of entering into a quad inmate holding area with these amazing member inmates of this trades program. 

I was able to shake the hand of every one of these amazing inmates congratulating them. After touring their cells, we had a group session. I asked these inmates the impact this program had on their lives. With tears in their eyes, they explained this was the only opportunity anyone gave them to make genuine change. 

Mendrick then explained how he was proud of them and loved them which hit me hard.

I was given a chance to make a speech in which I directed what Mendrick said. I asked them how many times in their lives a Sheriff would tell them he was proud of them and that he loved them, let alone anyone of their own loved ones and family.

When I spoke to these guys, I explained to them that the first chapter of their lives has yet to be written. That if Mendrick is offering them a second chance in life to take it. To utilize his help so that they can find a great paying job and start a family. To purchase a home and grow older in peace. With tears in their eyes, they responded with satisfaction that they were on the right road. 

That's why it's very important we take back the White House, Congress, and the Illinois General Assembly so we can direct the necessary funding to make programs like this successful.

As a matter of fact the BBC just wrapped up filming with Mendrick and the jail that will be in a television show. A&E is in talks with Sheriff Mendrick to have a season series on the success of his program.

This program will be the tip of the spear to go national and even international. We have to support this program as it will help develop more honest citizens and reduce crime. 

A special thank you to Joe Severino running for Congress in the 19th District and Kevin Coyne the President of Safe Suburbs PAC for providing lunch to 50 Dupage Deputies in support of Police Week.

Police Week is a time to honor our brave Police Officers. As a former Law Enforcement Officer, I know first hand what they go through. 

You see, a cop then thank a Cop. Maybe buy a cop a coffee or even lunch at a restaurant. 

As for our Police I believe it's time we come out in numbers in 2024 to vote. Most Police Officers by right sit out of elections or even vote because they see no reason to become involved because at times they know how crooked politicians are. 

Regardless if you are a Cop, it's important that you and your families vote this year in defense of our law enforcement community. We cannot let the corrupt liberal politicians and criminals win. No more laws like HB3653. It's up to us that wear the badge to back each other up, but this time with our vote. 

Thank you, Sheriff Mendrick for your leadership and trust me when I say this help is on its way to promote your beautiful program!