OSWEGO, Ill. (June 10, 2022) – Ensuring our communities are a safe place to live, work, and raise a family is a top priority for Kendall County Board Chairman Scott Gryder who is concerned the statistical spike in criminal activity brought on by rising temperatures will be exacerbated by radical anti-police policies, threatening to make this summer’s crime wave one of the most dangerous in recent memory. 

Law enforcement feels the pinch of low morale and early retirements due to “defund the police” Democrats’ so-called reforms for justice. Worse, departments suffer a shortage of new officers to replace the departed. 

Reports of Illinois State Police use of advertising to fill depleted training classes makes clear the primary barrier to recruitment are incessant calls to abolish qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.

Chairman Gryder underscored his support of qualified immunity for law enforcement following a conversation with a retired police officer who expressed concern over possible loss of this vital protection for law enforcement officers. Reassuring the audience, Gryder unequivocally stated: 

“To take away qualified immunity – that is going to have such a chilling effect on our safety here – it will never be the same again.”

Qualified immunity – the protection of police from personal lawsuits unless they engage in behavior reasonably known to violate citizen rights – is essential for effective law enforcement. 

As our Representative in Congress from Illinois’ 14th District, Scott Gryder will continue to support law enforcement and never vote to take away this vital protection which allows the brave men and women who protect our communities daily from questioning their training, which in many cases, means life or death for not only themselves, but those they are charged to protect. 

Currently serving as Kendall County Board Chairman, Scott Gryder is challenging Lauren Underwood for the future of Illinois' 14th District on behalf the hard-working people he meets every day who respect the men and women of law enforcement.