SHELBY COUNTY, Ill. - Shelby County's sheriff announced his resignation from office, citing police reform legislation as the reason.
In a letter making the announcement, Sheriff Don Koonce said he will step down on June 25, 2021.
"This decision was not an easy one for me to make, but (was) reaffirmed by the imminent change in police reform," Koonce said. "It is my hope that Illinois legislators dive deep into this reform and make sweeping changes. The safety of the public is at risk."
This follows a massive criminal justice reform bill of over 700 pages in length signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker in February. The law eliminated cash bail in the state and mandated police body camera usage for all officers. It limited the use of force, among other changes.
