New Lenox, Mokena React To Protests, Unrest

MOKENA, IL — Area police departments and villages have issued statements after the current unrest and protests across the nation. The village of New Lenox and the New Lenox Police Department and the village of Mokena and the Mokena Police Department have issued statements addressing recent national events.

Mokena Mayor Frank Fleischer and Chief of Police Steve Vaccaro issued a joint statement May 31 saying the village and the police department "(have) and will continue to respect the rights and dignity of all persons abiding the law regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity or sexual preference."

"In the interests of all residents of the village of Mokena, it is our genuine desire to create a safe and secure community in which we are all proud to live," the statement reads. "We each have a duty to respect our neighbors by conducting ourselves in a lawful manner."

The statement from the village and police department says the police department will protect individuals and businesses in "a professional and ethical manner" from those who engage in criminal activity.

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann and Chief of Police April Di Sandro shared similar sentiments in their statement, also echoing that "every law abiding person will be treated with respect regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity."

"In regard to anyone who commits a crime in our community, our police department will do everything in their power to protect our citizens and businesses, while always maintaining a professional and ethical response to those committing said infractions regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity," the New Lenox statement says.

Baldermann and Disandro said they fully support members of the law enforcement community, however they do not have any tolerance for an officer "that takes actions that would dishonor the badge or violate anyone's civil rights."

"We will never tolerate lawlessness, but we realize treating all people equally is a sign of strength, not weakness."

Protests are being reported all over the country after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the death of George Floyd after his arrest Monday.

The National Guard was activated Sunday after looting and vandalism in the city of Chicago. Some nearby suburbs also reported vandalism and three arrests were made in Orland Park on Sunday. Lincoln-Way area towns also encouraged businesses to close Sunday as a precautionary measure.