No Looting Threats Seen In Burr Ridge: Mayor

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge has seen no threats from looters, despite reports they are coming to the suburbs to cause problems, the village's mayor said in a statement Sunday. Mayor Gary Grasso said he was at the police station monitoring the situation in the afternoon.

Grasso said the police chief Sunday called in off-duty officers and the village gave mutual aid to Oak Brook, which was securing the Oakbrook Center mall, a rumored target of looters. No looting was reported at the heavily guarded mall, officials said. Looting in Chicago and elsewhere is seen as an outgrowth of protests over George Floyd's death in an encounter with Minneapolis police.

"There is understandable concern, but no immediate threat currently exists in our area," Grasso said in Sunday's statement. "Protesting is a long respected right of American democracy, but there is no excuse to loot. Looters are criminals, not protesters, and looting will not be tolerated."

The village also issued a statement Friday saying it was committed to protecting everyone's civil rights. It made the statement in light of Floyd's death.

"The men and women of the Burr Ridge Police Department are selectively hired and highly trained individuals who have always before and will always continue to act and react in an unbiased and professional manner while upholding their oaths to the Constitution," the statement said.

In December, the Arlington Heights-based Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations designated Burr Ridge as among the suburban departments that are considered "friendly to people of color." Hinsdale was also given that status.

Also in the suburbs:

Naperville Urges Downtown Businesses To Close Out Of Caution

Did Looting Occur In Elmhurst?

Rumors About Oakbrook Mall False: Village