The Coronavirus without question has presented the world with an unprecedented number of problems and decisions which lacks any type precedent or blueprint to serve as a guide. There are so many it would be impossible to list them all. Stopping the spread of a silent killer is the number one priority of  Country’s leaders from the President on down to the Mayors of all our cities and townships across America. How to save people from themselves and each other has produced some eye opening decisions by politicians that quite frankly have been met with some degree of astonishment.

Of course being a Chicago cop for some years, I fully realize that there is indeed two sides to every story. Sometimes even scores of sides to every story. Police work is one of those professions that the second guessers are like a full house at a Cubs or Sox game vilifying the manager for his in-game decisions. I know for sure that my second guessing here is one that is felt by millions across America.

All across the country there has been a movement to release criminals from prison, the fear being that they will contract the Coronavirus because of the closed in restrictions of prison life. I must say I cannot for one second imagine what the hell these politicians are thinking about. Imagine the fractured logic of releasing murderers back into the society where they murdered, robbed, assaulted, and a virtual laundry list of other serious felonies.

I’m not sure if any of you ever heard of the Green River killer. His name was Gary Ridgeway and over a period of some years he murdered and sexually assaulted over 80 women. When he was finally apprehended he confessed to at least 80, though detectives are convinced there were many more. A few weeks back because of a political decision, as astonishing as this may sound, he was one of the inmates eligible for release.

The community was so outraged that they challenged his release. A no brainer for the COURT YOU SAY! IT WAS A 5-4 decision. If you can wrap you head around that. Imagine almost releasing a man who murdered over 80 people because authorities were worried he would contract the virus. An astonishing gang of brainless creatures that somehow got into a position to return this man to an unsuspecting neighborhood near you.

Here in Illinois we have almost the same scenario at play, sans a serial killer, although that is not to say it could not happen. So far, very quietly, Governor Pritzker who exhausts himself talking transparency in government,  has released  over a 1,000 inmates from prisons across Illinois. At least 64 had been serving sentences for murder. Hundreds of people convicted of felonies some multiple times, freed and sent back to the neighborhoods and the societies they preyed upon.

Thanks to retired Cook County Circuit Judge Daniel Locallo  it was discovered that the Governor also violated the Constitution of the State of Illinois, either intentionally or through gross ignorance. Judge Locallo charges that Pritzker ignored the “Crime Victims Rights Amendment” by not notifying the victims or their survivors. The Constitution clearly states that CRIME VICTIMS OR SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE CONVICTION,THE SENTENCE, THE IMPRISONMENT AND THE RELEASE OF THE ACCUSED. By not doing so he has victimized victims or their surviving members yet again.

No doubt in my mind the billionaire Governor Pritzker who was born on 3rd base and actually thinks he hit a triple, has no clue to the multiple dangers he has foisted on society. Not only do people have to fear the Virus and the draconian restrictions he has placed on the State, he added to their fears by releasing convicted killers and habitual criminals to once again prey on the very communities they once terrorized. I’m positive the Governor is secure in the fact that they will not be prowling around his mansion, or around his multi million dollar horse farm in Florida where his wife has been safely sheltered for several weeks. (I guess the stay at home order only applies to us common folks) This all came about because of a prison system that was completely overwhelmed and unprepared to keep those safe that was in their custody.

The question is why were they not prepared? Who is to blame? Not a mention of that by a Governor that has slammed the Federal response to the Coronavirus pandemic at every press conference he’s ever held for the last 2 months. A pattern for Illinois politicians – all mirrors have been removed to avoid any type of guilt. Aristotle is quoted as saying,  “THE GENERALITY OF MEN ARE NATURALLY APT TO BE SWAYED BY FEAR RATHER THAN BY REVERENCE AND TO REFRAIN FROM EVIL RATHER BECAUSE OF PUNISHMENT THAT IT BRINGS.” As there is use in medicine for poisons so the world cannot move without rogues. Illinois has not heard the last of those released murderers and the other thousand convicted of criminal acts, count on it.