NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT

31 Riverside Road
Riverside, Illinois 60546

February 19, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Chief Tom Weitzel

708 447 2127 tweitzel@riverside.il.us

West Suburban Police Chiefs Meet with Representative Zalewski

On Thursday, February 12, in Riverside,
police chiefs and deputy chiefs from Bedford
Park, Berwyn, Bridgeview, Brookfield,
Brookfield
Zoo,
Burbank,
Cicero,
Countryside, Hickory Hills, Justice,
Lagrange, Lagrange Park, Lyons and
Riverside met with State Representative
Zalewski and representatives from the
offices of Representative Lisa Hernandez
and State Senator Steven Landek.
This gathering was suggested by Riverside
Police Chief Thomas Weitzel several
months ago in order to discuss the current
situation
in
Springfield,
pro-law
enforcement legislation and concerns
about current legislation being proposed
that may hamper law enforcement's ability
to
do
their
job
and
Representative Zalewski was on board
from the beginning!
Current legislation on police lineups, DUI
legislation, and proposals in Springfield
regarding police body cameras were

discussed along with other legislative issues and State Representative Mike Zalewski briefed the chiefs
on the current politics going on in Springfield.
Lockport Police Chief Terry Lemming attended the
meeting as he serves as co-chairman for the
legislative committee for the Illinois Association of
Chiefs of Police (ILACP). Chief Lemming brought
ILACP legislative initiatives to hand out at the meeting
and deliver to Representative Zalewski. Chief Weitzel,
who serves as a board member of Fight Crime Invest
in Kids Illinois, brought legislation for that group. Each
police chief at the meeting had an opportunity to
speak to the representative about their issues and
concerns with the legislative process in Illinois.
Also attending the meeting were Riversides Deputy Chief David Krull, Lt. Bill Gutschick, and Riverside
Village President Benjamin Sells, along with Lyons Deputy Chief Matt Buckley and Village Manager
Thomas Sheahan.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said that it was a good meeting with a free-flow exchange of
ideas and concerns and that Representative
Zalewski was very knowledgeable and
obviously invested in local issues as a
Riverside resident. Said Weitzel, He was
very receptive to the meeting, participated,
and listened closely to the chiefs' concerns.
I'm also thankful that Chief Lemming came to
our meeting - his presence was very strong
as he serves in a powerful position as cochairman of the Legislative Committee for the
Illinois Association of Chief of Police (ILACP).
Terry briefed Representative Zalewski on
statewide issues of legislation that directly affect law enforcement agencies, including funding, training,
equipment and just simple operational issues that are affecting law enforcement agencies throughout
the state.
State Representative Michael Zalewski (D) Riverside stated, "Public safety remains a top priority for
me in 2015, and I thank Chief Tom Weitzel and his colleagues for the good, constructive dialogue on
what the General Assembly can do to help law enforcement offers do their jobs more effectively. I look
forward to continued cooperation with the chiefs during the upcoming legislative session."

The legislative initiatives of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police are attached to this press release
as is the request by Fight Crime Invest in Kids Illinois for funding in the governor's upcoming budget.

Photos
1. L to R, Brookfield Police Chief Steve Stelter, La Grange Park Police Chief Edward Rompa,
Brookfield Zoo Police Sergeant Lee Zeitlin and North Riverside Police Chief Lane Niemann
(photo press release page #1 top).
2. L to R, Mike Porfirio, Chief of Staff for Senator Steven Landek and State Representative Mike
Zalewski, (D) Riverside (photo press release page #1 bottom)
3. Lockport Police Chief Terry Lemming. Chief Lemming is the co-chair of the Illinois Association of
Chiefs of Police legislative committee (photo press release page #2 top).
4. L to R, Lyons Deputy Chief Matt Buckley, Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel and Riverside
Village President Benjamin Sells (photo press release page #2 bottom).
###