Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met July 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Liehr, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Dunbar, Ms. Parker, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Smith, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra and Mr. Hunter

Members Absent

None

In Attendance

• Board Members

Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Sirois

• Department Heads

Sheriff Mike Downey, Sandi Cianci, Jim Rowe, Anita Speckman, Tom Latham, Ed Pentuic, Robert Gessner

Media

None

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Hess at 7:30 a.m.

2. Public Comment

Mya Hendrix, Momence – Mr. Hess called for public comment at 7:34am, no answer

3. Approval of Minutes: June 10, 2020

Mr. Byrne made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Smith seconded it.

Motion carried with a voice vote

4. Judicial – Chief Judge Michael Kramer

There was no update from Judge Kramer

5. Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

• Monthly Report

• Computerization Update

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to combine and approve the monthly report, and Mr. Byrne seconded it.

Ms. Cianci reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee. There were no questions or comments from the committee regarding the reports.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Ms. Cianci reviewed the computerization update with the committee and advised that they are integrating the systems and continuing to work on the update.

There were no questions or comments from the committee.

6. State’s Attorney’s Office – Jim Rowe

• Grand Jury Report

• Grand Jury Statistics Report

Mr. Rowe stated that there are no reports for this month due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mr. Snipes asked for an update on the mentorship program.

Mr. Rowe advised that the program was going very well, everyone had been trained and they were just about to pair them up when COVID happened.

7. Public Defender’s Office – Ed Pentuic

• Monthly Report

Mr. Byrne made a motion to approve the report and Mr. Long seconded it.

Mr. Pentuic reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

8. Probation – Tom Latham

• Monthly Report

Mr. Liehr made a motion to approve the monthly report, and Mr. Long seconded it.

Mr. Latham reviewed and discussed the report with the committee. There were no further questions or comments from the committee. Motion carried with a voice vote.

9. Sheriff/EMA Department – Sheriff Mike Downey • Monthly Report

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to approve the monthly report, and Mr. Smith seconded it.

Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Sheriff stated that there are still no COVID cases in the jail and that is credit to the staff. Transports are down significantly, due to COVID.

Traffic detail has increased through an IDOT Grant, which pays for them to be out doing traffic control. Fatal accidents are down significantly as well.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Sheriff Downey spoke with the committee about the State not accepting sentenced inmates to State Detention centers, which means the County is paying for those inmates. The Governor had extended those orders, which we have over 25 of those inmates.

Mr. Byrne asked what the cost to the county is for the governors extended order. Sheriff Downey advised that it is $167,000

• EMA Personnel Change

Sheriff Downey stated that this was for informational purposes only. Sheriff stated that Becky Powell is the new EMA Director and has been with the department for over 20 years.

• COPS Grant

Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the COPS Grant with the committee. Sheriff advised that there are schools within the district that request officers to be on staff as a school resource officer. With the short staff, the county would be able to send an officer to the school by request for the day.

The county was awarded a grant that covers the salary, but not the benefits. Sheriff advised that he has numbers to discuss in order to make the school resource officers available to Lorenzo Smith school and St. George.

Mr. Snipes asked if the schools have an amount within their budget for the officers. Sheriff advised that was not the case, the schools do not have a budget for it.

Sheriff asked for the topic to be moved to Finance.

Mr. Hunter made a motion to move to finance Committee, and Mr. Byrne seconded it.

Sheriff reviewed the numbers with the committee advising that there will be officers retiring within 3-5 years. This will cost the county about $59,000 per year and will be discussed in detail at Finance.

Mr. Hunter asked about the benefits of having a school resource officer.

Sheriff stated that the relationship between school resource officers and youth are an advantage to student involvement. This increases safety.

Mr. Wheeler asked how they choose the resource officer.

Sheriff stated that they choose based on experience and ability to develop relationships with the students.

Ms. Parker spoke in favor of the COPS Grant.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

• ODO (Office of Detention Oversight) Inspection

Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the inspections that are required at Jerome Combs.

Sheriff stated that this is required by ICE and this inspection was done via video, phone and interviews rather than coming to the facility. This occurred July 6-9th and a final report has not yet been received. There is a close out phone call at the end which gives them an idea as to the final report.

Sheriff stated that two things were identified as best practice on a national level. The first is visitation and the second is dental care. Both were mentioned in the report and Sheriff thanked his staff for providing these services for ICE and earning that recognition.

Mr. Hunter asked if the report is public knowledge and asked if the report could be available.

Sheriff stated that the final report will be received in 30-40 days. Sheriff stated that there are policy findings and those were corrected before the inspection was done. Any findings have been corrected.

Sheriff stated that the correction vans are older and he is gathering information for replacing those.

Lastly, Sheriff stated that there is a relationship that law enforcement has with the NAACP and the next meeting is July 23rd at the EOC and that will be broadcasted live to show how we resolve issues locally. This really should be a model nationwide as the working relationship is outstanding.

Mr. Hunter agreed with the statements of Sheriff Downey.

Mr. Byrne thanked Sheriff and his department for the strong leadership and communication.

Mr. Byrne asked if the people that have concerns about the ICE facility have spoken with the Federal entities, who actually make those laws.

Mr. Snipes commented on his support for our law enforcement and the constant criticism that they endure when the facility and staff are exceeding expectations. Mr. Snipes continued to share a personal story and experience about a recent situation with a Sheriff’s deputy that was extremely positive. Mr. Snipes stated that our law enforcement is extremely professional and conduct themselves with integrity.

Mr. Ekhoff stated that he took a tour of the ICE facility and he encouraged all board members to do the same. He stated the facility is top notch and he thanked the Sheriff. Mr. Ekhoff agreed with Mr. Snipes and would not support the defunding of law enforcement.

Mr. Hunter asked if there could be a support resolution drafted.

Mr. Wheeler stated that would go through Executive Committee and he completely supports the idea.

Mr. Hunter made a motion to create a resolution supporting law enforcement to Executive Committee, Mr. Byrne seconded it.

Motion carried with a voice vote

• Animal Control Update

Sheriff stated that Animal Control has a couple pending criminal investigations and that is all that can be said for now.

10. Coroner’s Office – Bob Gessner • Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money

Mr. Fairfield made a motion to combine and approve the monthly reports and monthly receipts, and Mr. Byrne seconded it.

Mr. Gessner reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

Motion carried with a Voice Vote.

Mr. Gessner advised the committee that the number of overdoses have increased significantly. There are 35 currently and the situation is continuing to worsen.

Mr. Gessner gave warning to the committee that the coroner will be over on autopsy counts.

Mr. Ekhoff asked how many autopsies are done per year.

Mr. Gessner stated that he was at 89 last year and are currently at 69 with five months to go.

11. Old Business/New Business

Mr. Snipes thanked the Sheriff for his support with Hearts Across America.

12. Adjournment

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:43 a.m., and Mr. Long seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/criminal_justice_71520.pdf