CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Advocates for a citizen review board to review Joliet Police Department practices vow to fight on after the latest proposal fizzled in the city council.
After two years of delays, the Joliet City Council land use and legislative committee held a hearing on a proposed citizen review board for the Joliet Police Department.
The idea met a dead end when no committee members made a motion to bring the plan to a vote.
Joliet's police chief argued the committee wasn't necessary because there are numerous layers of oversight including the Illinois Attorney General's office, which has been investigating the department since last year.
It stems from the January 2020 death of a man in police custody. Eric Lurry died of what was determined to be a self-ingested drug overdose.
Joliet Township trustee Karl Ferrell said the state investigation is evidence of the need for more oversight...not less.
"The Attorney General is here," he emphasized. "They aren't here voluntarily. They're here, because they saw something wrong."
Proponents said they now have their eyes on next April's election.
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