DECATUR â Monday, Feb. 22, is a day destined to live as a headache in the collective memory of those working in law enforcement.
Police leaders in and around Decatur had spoken out previously to condemn the sweeping criminal justice reform bill Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Monday afternoon. Law enforcementâs views havenât mellowed any in the meantime.
âIf they (lawmakers) were interested in true police reform, they would sit at the table with law enforcement and come to solutions that are the best for the community,â said Decatur Police Chief, Jim Getz.
âInstead, they ignored us. Now we have a law that is going to entice criminals to commit crime because there are really no consequences.â
Watch now: Decatur and Macon County law enforcement oppose new criminal justice reforms herald-review.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from herald-review.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Timothy W. Smith
Timothy W. Smith pleaded not guilty April 1 to two charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving a girl under the age of 15 and a charge of domestic battery involving physical contact against the same victim.
Bryan C. McGee
Bryan C. McGee was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possession of a stolen handgun after accepting a plea deal. A judge dismissed one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.Â
Justin D. Tate
Police say Justin D. Tate picked up a runaway 14-year-old girl and force-fed her methamphetamine before making her perform sex acts and then raping her. He was arrested March 24.
Decatur, Georgia (Herald & Review) Dramatic body cam footage shows the moment Decatur police say one of their officers had to draw and fire his service firearm to defend himself from an armed suspect who had just shot at him.
Both the suspect, 47-year-old Springfield man Gregory W. Lewis, and the policeman, third shift patrol officer Michael Lawary, emerged uninjured from the early Friday morning confrontation in a Decatur neighborhood.
Lewis is currently held in the Macon County Jail on preliminary charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer and being a felon in possession of a weapon. He was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and his bail was set at $2.14 million.
Watch now: Footage shows gunfire between suspect, Decatur police lee.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lee.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.