Burr Ridge Chief Criticizes Cook County Prosecutors

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge's police chief suggested last week that DuPage County prosecutors are tougher on crime than their counterparts in Cook County. The village is split between the two counties, with the majority in DuPage.

Chief John Madden's comments at last week's Village Board meeting about the office of Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, whom he did not identify by name, reflect the opinions of many in law enforcement. He pointed to a Chicago Tribune report that stated Foxx dropped all charges against 29.9 percent of felony defendants in the three years after she took office in 2017.

"The changes implemented over the last four years has emboldened many people to engage in criminal activity without fear of felony charges or any charges at all," the chief said.

At the same time, Madden noted a report in the Daily Herald in which DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin reported that felony cases are up by 25 percent in DuPage since 2016.

Madden gave an example to illustrate what he saw as the differences between the two state's attorney's offices: A few months ago, he said, Burr Ridge officers helped a neighboring department pursue burglary suspects, who ended up in the village's Babson Park subdivision.

"They were apprehended by Burr Ridge police officers," Madden said. "The first question (the suspects) had for the officers was they wanted to know what county they were in. They wanted to make sure they were in Cook County. They were disappointed."

Asked for comment on Madden's statements, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said Foxx has secured 2,700 more convictions related to violent felony offenses than her predecessor in her last three years of her tenure.

"These violent and most serious offenses include cases of gun violence, homicide, sex crimes, aggravated battery, violence against police officers, robbery, domestic battery and kidnapping," the office said in a statement. "These cases represent 28 percent of the cases prosecuted by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. The conviction rate on these cases has increased from 81 percent to 83 percent under the Foxx Administration."