Kankakee, IL – Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey issued a strongly worded statement this week, responding to comments made by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson that described law enforcement as a “sickness.”
According to Downey, the mayor’s language is not only “reckless and insulting,” but also dangerous during a time when public safety challenges remain high across Illinois. In a written release and a social media post, Downey said, “Law enforcement officers are not a disease. They are a lifeline.”
The sheriff emphasized that officers across the state take on daily risks, answering late-night calls, protecting families, and standing in harm’s way. He argued that critical rhetoric undermines trust between law enforcement and communities, damages morale, and emboldens criminals.
Downey also noted reports that Mayor Johnson travels with a security detail of more than 100 Chicago Police Department officers. He challenged the mayor to reconsider his remarks, suggesting that if law enforcement were truly a “sickness,” Johnson should forgo that protection.
“Words from leadership matter,” Downey wrote. “They affect recruitment at a time when police departments are already struggling to fill ranks. They send a dangerous message to criminals that those enforcing the law don’t have the backing of their city’s leaders.”
The sheriff concluded his statement by reaffirming his department’s commitment to protecting communities, defending the innocent, and upholding the law.
