Police Chiefs Vote 'No Confidence' In Foxx After Smollett Case

SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL — Suburban police chiefs across Cook County are ripping Cook State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for her recent sudden decision to drop felony charges against actor Jussie Smollett’s alleged staging of a hate crime attack and her handling of felony reviews.

In a show of solidarity, the West, North and South Suburban Police Chief Associations have issued letters stating a “vote of no confidence” in Foxx’s “lack of leadership and loss of credibility within our communities.” The chiefs also criticized Foxx’s strategy to decriminalize non-violent crimes or ignore it, despite its negative impact on the quality of life in their communities.

A copy of the letter provided to Patch by South Suburban Police Chief Association President Jack Touhy expressed his fellow chiefs’ “sheer disappointment of the disdain Kim Foxx has displayed towards the law and the lack of outreach to the south suburban communities." He stated that the police chief’s “no confidence vote” is directed at Foxx, and not the hardworking assistant state’s attorneys laboring in suburban Cook County Courthouses.

Touhy further stated that the over 1 million south suburban residents have been adversely affected by Foxx’s “lack of leadership and vision” has added to the “disdain criminal display toward crime in general and the communities where they commit their crimes.”

“We stand in solidarity with police chiefs across Cook County, lawyer groups, media, elected officials and others who have called on Kim Foxx to resign her office effective immediately.”

North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police President Duane Mellema wrote a letter to Foxx on April 1 to express the "deep concerns we have regarding your leadership" and to inform her of the vote of "no confidence." Mellema cited the office's centralized felony review process, not prosecuting retail thefts below $1,000 as felonies, suspended and unlicensed drivers and certain marijuana offenses.

"We continue, as we are required, to investigate and make arrests for these offenses for which accountability and deterrence are greatly diminished," Mellema said. He argued non-criminal local ordinance violations did not have enough teeth for force compliance.

"You and your staff argue that these are insignificant non-violent crimes, however the connection of both crimes in supporting larger criminal drug enterprises, often controlled by street gangs, means that many people will continue to be victimized," he told Foxx.

The dropping of charges against actor Jussie Smollet was "the latest and most egregious example of the failure by you and your staff to hold offenders accountable," according to Mellema.

In a letter to Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Graham, West Suburban Police Chiefs Association President Ed Rompa said his association was unanimous in its vote of "no confidence." He said Foxx's office had also refused to prosecute most DUI.

"This decision in no way is against the hard working individuals that are associated with the [Cook County] State's Attorney's Office and are even in the courtrooms every day," Rompa said. "This is strictly against [State's Attorney] Foxx."

The suburban police chief association presidents along with the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police held a joint press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Read the South Suburban Police Chief Association's letter:

Read the North Suburban Police Chief Association's letter to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx:

Read the West Suburban Police Chief Association's letter about Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx: