Dems want to legalize attacking Illinois police during mental breakdowns



Those experiencing a mental health crisis may receive a free pass to physically attack law enforcement officers if Illinois lawmakers pass a proposed bill backed by several Democrats.

In February, newly elected state Rep. Lisa Davis (D) introduced House Bill 3458, which proposes amendments to Illinois' Criminal Code of 2012 to allow "a defense to aggravated battery" when a person "having a mental health episode" attacks a law enforcement officer. To use the defense, the perpetrator must have "a documented mental illness" and have attacked the officer "abruptly."

'May incentivize people to feign mental illness.'

Davis, a Cook County public defender, campaigned on the promise to keep the community "safe while also ensuring our criminal justice system is fair."

"As a Cook County public defender, I've worked to make sure everyone has access to justice while keeping our community safe," Davis stated in a January video. "As a proud union member, a mom, and the wife of a Chicago firefighter, I am invested in smart policies that uplift our southwest side families."

In a questionnaire from the Chicago Sun-Times leading up to the election, Davis cited that the top problem in her district was "public safety."

"I would collaborate with stakeholders to find equitable solutions to public safety that are community based and community driven," Davis stated.

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D) and Rep. Marcus Evans (D) cosponsored Davis' proposed legislation.

Local law enforcement officers expressed concerns about Davis' bill.

Taylorville police officer Matthew Nichols told WCIA, "I would ask the elected officials what makes them want to make this only apply to law enforcement."

The bill applies only to law enforcement officers and not other first responders. Davis is married to a Chicago firefighter.

"I could see how it may incentivize people to feign mental illness if they're facing charges of [aggravated battery] to a police officer, whether they're mentally ill or not," he continued. "What mechanisms are [they] going to put in place to make sure that they have to prove that they have mental conditions and not just feigning mental illness to get the charges dropped."

Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch called the legislation "a little ridiculous."

"If there is an incident that happens with a police officer and someone that's having a mental episode, the state's attorney can make that judgment on could that person reasonably make the decision to commit that battery," Crouch told WCIA.

The bill has been sent to the rules committee. There is no scheduled voting date at this time.

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4 officers across America gunned down in cold blood in 2 days



Four young law enforcement officers at departments across the country were gunned down in cold blood, while several more were shot and at least one officer died in a tragic accident, all in about a week.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese of the Virginia Beach Police Department were paired together for the midnight patrol shift on Friday. They hopped in a police cruiser, and away they went.

Just before 11:30 p.m., they spotted a blue Hyundai Sonata with expired tags and attempted to pull the vehicle over. However, the driver, later identified as 42-year-old John McCoy III of Virginia Beach, did not cooperate.

Girvin and Reese managed to corner McCoy on a dead-end street, where the suspect eventually stopped and exited his car after repeated requests. At that point, the suspect and the two officers got into a "tussle" that soon went horribly wrong, according to Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate.

During the encounter, the suspect began firing a gun, striking both officers, who immediately fell to the ground. While the two officers were wounded and "defenseless," the suspect fired another round at each of them, the chief claimed, citing bodycam and police vehicle camera footage.

"I can tell you from the video that after he executed our officers, he calmly walked away," Neudigate said at a press conference.

Girvin and Reese were each raced to the hospital. Reese, 30, succumbed to his injuries almost immediately, while Girvin, 25, passed away at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

'Their sacrifice is a painful reminder of the daily dangers our officers face and their unwavering commitment to serve with honor and integrity.'

The suspect, McCoy, was later found in the area, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. "At no time did any of our officers fire shots," Neudigate said.

Another person was also in McCoy's vehicle during the traffic stop. That individual has not been identified or charged with any crime.

Girvin joined the VBPD in 2020, while Reese joined in 2022 after spending a few years at the county sheriff's office. Both "had stellar reputations in our department, and their work ethic was beyond reproach," Neudigate stated, his voice quaking with emotion.

"These officers were not just members of this department; they were family, friends, and heroes. Their sacrifice is a painful reminder of the daily dangers our officers face and their unwavering commitment to serve with honor and integrity," read a Facebook post memorializing the two fallen officers.

York, Pennsylvania

Andrew Duarte, 30, of the West York Borough Police Department died in a shoot-out at a hospital just a few hours after the Virginia Beach incident and about 300 miles to the north, in York, Pennsylvania.

According to reports, at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, 42-year-old Diogenes Archangel Ortiz of York walked into the intensive care unit at UPMC Memorial Hospital, carrying a semiautomatic weapon and zip ties. He managed to restrain one female staffer using the zip ties and fired several rounds, striking a doctor, a nurse, and a custodian. Another staff member was injured in a fall sustained while attempting to escape to safety.

'I have a type A personality and like to succeed in all that I do.'

Duarte and other officers representing 10 different jurisdictions raced to the scene and began engaging with the shooter, who held the female staffer at gunpoint. More gunfire erupted, and Duarte and two other officers were struck.

Unfortunately, Duarte never recovered.

Duarte served as a police officer in Denver before joining the West York force in 2022. "I have a type A personality and like to succeed in all that I do," he wrote on his LinkedIn profile.

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, York County Deputy District Attorney Tim Barker provided more information about the suspect and victims. According to Barker, Ortiz had visited someone in the ICU earlier in week and interacted with staff during his time there. When he returned on Saturday, he specifically targeted ICU workers, Barker claimed.

When asked whether Duarte was shot by the suspect or by "friendly fire," Barker replied only that that the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

The doctor suffered only a surface wound. The nurse and custodian were more critically injured and had to undergo surgery. They were said to be in stable condition Saturday afternoon, as were the two injured officers.

"Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to West York Borough Police Officer, Andrew Duarte's family and all of our brothers and sisters in the West York Borough Police Department that have lost a comrade and friend, and furthermore our fellow Borough agencies that have lost a colleague. Our community grieves the loss of a hero," said a Facebook post from the borough.

Terry, Mississippi

On Sunday evening, less than 48 hours after the shooting in Virginia Beach, a sheriff's deputy in Mississippi was shot and killed responding to a call in Terry, just 15 miles south of Jackson.

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said he had been working on a call with Deputy Martin Shields Jr. about a capsized boat in Terry on Sunday evening. About 15 minutes later, Shields and another deputy left to respond to a call about a domestic disturbance elsewhere in the small town of just 1,000 residents.

When the two deputies arrived at a residence on Midway Road, they were almost immediately met with gunfire. The suspect in the case is 42-year-old Eric Brown.

Two women, one of whom is Brown's wife, were struck by bullets as they tried to flee the scene. They were taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment. Their current condition is unknown.

'He fulfilled his assignment and his God-given mission on earth.'

A BOLO alert was issued for Brown but quickly canceled after an "unidentified black male subject believed to be related to the call" was discovered deceased inside the Terry residence. Police have not confirmed whether the man was Brown.

Shields' companion was not injured in the shooting. Sadly, however, Shields was fatally struck. He was just 37 years old and had been with the sheriff's office nine months after working in law enforcement elsewhere.

"Neither of us knew that when we shook hands and smiled on a call where we both responded regarding a capsized boat in the Pearl River in Terry, the very next call would be his last. I shook his hand, thanked him, he smiled, and we departed," Sheriff Jones later wrote in tribute to Shields on social media.

"Deputy Shields died a hero. He died while responding to a call for service to assist someone in need. He fulfilled his assignment and his God-given mission on earth."

Other incidents

These fatal incidents were hardly the only attacks on the blue this week. At least six others were shot, according to Joe Gamaldi, vice president of the national Fraternal Order of Police.

Yet another law enforcement officer died on February 17 when a snowplow accidentally hit Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Kyle McAcy, 31, while he was standing outside his patrol car parked on I-80. He had served on the force for a decade.

Roxi, a K-9 police dog, was also killed in the line of duty earlier this month in Miami-Dade. She died in a vehicle crash while officers pursued a suspect.

Angel Maysonet, a former NYPD detective and fierce "Back the Blue" advocate, believes the recent violence against cops begins with failed political leadership.

"We have criminals who are emboldened to commit violence due to the lack of consequences and the anti-police vitriol in America. When politicians pretend to care about law enforcement, let's look at their track records. They virtue-signal about January 6, claiming that they care, but they will not go on any news outlet to mourn our police or call for the attacks on law enforcement to stop, unless it fits their narrative," Maysonet said in a statement to Blaze News.

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'There will be violence': Homan issues warning to cartels, tells Glenn Beck next steps



Border czar Thomas Homan minced no words when speaking to Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck on Wednesday, detailing what's next when it comes to the Trump administration's securement of the southern border, its removal of illegal aliens, its neutralization of cartel militants, and its response to obstructionist politicians.

Homan not only put cartels on notice, indicating that any attempt on their part at retaliation will result in their erasure from existence, but made clear — specifically calling out New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy as well as the Democratic politicians in Colorado who stood by while Tren de Aragua gangsters terrorized their cities — that there will be consequences for politicians who harbor or conceal illegal aliens.

Greasing the way out

The border czar noted at the outset that "border crossings are down almost 90% across the southern border" and that not a single one of the nearly 500 people who tried stealing into the homeland on Tuesday were successful.

Evidently impressed by the difference between the outrageously high border-crossing figures during former President Joe Biden's tenure and the figures cited by Homan, Beck asked the czar whether there was yet any indication how many illegal aliens are self-deporting.

While presently uncertain about the current number of illegal aliens seeing themselves out, Homan indicated the administration has cooked up an incentive that might help them "catch that metric."

Illegal aliens who are caught then deported face a bar on legal entry, which can last for multiple decades. Homan indicated that in the coming weeks, an announcement will go out informing illegal aliens that they will receive "credit" for reporting to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before they self-deport or stop at a port of entry.

"If you get formally deported, there's a bar that's placed on you from five to 20 years," Homan told Beck. "We're going to have a massive push in about 10 days getting people to self-deport and send 'em home."

— (@)

Annihilation

Blaze News previously reported that the El Paso Sector Intelligence and Operations Center received information on February 1 indicating that "Mexican cartel leaders have authorized the deployment of drones equipped with explosives to be used against U.S. Border Patrol agents and U.S. military personnel currently working along the border with Mexico."

'He'll wipe them off the face of the earth.'

Online posts cited by Customs and Border Protection apparently urged the very militants whom President Donald Trump has moved to designate as terrorists to assassinate ICE agents.

Referencing both the drug cartels' recent threats as well as their potential fury over losing indirect access to American foreign aid, Beck asked Homan whether he was concerned about retaliation.

Homan noted that he was very concerned and takes the threats seriously, especially since proper border enforcement under the Trump administration has cut off multiple sources of cartel income and left them scrambling.

While acknowledging "there will be violence on the border" and "more armed encounters," Homan noted that any retaliation on the part of the cartels would constitute their final mistake.

"The Border Patrol is prepared. We get great intel on this. The U.S. military is prepared," said Homan. "If they harm a single Border Patrol agent or solider, President Trump will rain hell down on them, and I think he'll wipe them off the face of the earth."

— (@)

Accountability

Homan suggested that it was shameful for any American politician to impede the deportation of illegal aliens "because we made it clear that we're prioritizing public safety threats."

'It's a felony.'

"I find it hard to believe that any politician whether Republican, Democrat, independent, does not want public safety threats removed from their communities," Homan told Beck. "But if they don't want to help, step aside, [and] we'll do it for them."

Homan, who previously emphasized that obstructionists read Title 8, United States Code 1324, which makes it a punishable offense if one "conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection" illegal aliens, told Beck that "if there is a politician that knowingly and actively impedes a federal law enforcement officer, it's a felony."

While the border czar indicated that he does not believe any one politician has "crossed that line yet," he indicated that Democratic New Jersey Gov. Murphy would have been in trouble had his recent boast been true.

Murphy, who has prohibited state and local law enforcement from aiding with deportation and immigration enforcement, suggested to a leftist activist group on Feb. 1 that he was harboring an illegal alien inside his garage, adding, "Good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her."

Murphy has since indicated he misled his fellow travelers, suggesting he was actually referring to a legal resident.

Homan noted that Attorney General Pam Bondi, who directed the Department of Justice to halt all federal funding for sanctuary cities after her swearing in on Wednesday, will "have no problem if I recommend prosecution of a politician for impeding or knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien."

— (@)

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FACT CHECK: Video Doesn’t Provide Full Context To Police Stop

A video shared on X claims to show a police officer throwing a plastic bag into a motorist’s car. Can’t make this one up pic.twitter.com/w4RpwXUJ19 — CCTV IDIOTS (@cctvidiots) January 26, 2025 Verdict: Unsubstantiated The video shows the police officer throwing a plastic bag that was taken from one of the passengers, not the police officer […]

Kash Patel is the leader the FBI needs



“It’s not OK for the government to break the law,” Kash Patel explained. As President Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Patel’s words to me carry significant weight. His career proves his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, accountability, and, above all, the American people.

We were talking on a Friday evening in July 2018, just as we wrapped up a long week in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. At the time, I was the special assistant to the president for counterterrorism and transnational threats on the National Security Council. Patel was my deputy. We had worked together closely since his hiring by National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Patel represents the American dream. Most importantly, Patel delivers when it matters.

We were deep in the Russiagate investigation, and new evidence had just emerged from the Justice Department inspector general. The findings confirmed severe FBI misconduct in handling the “election interference” probe. At the center of uncovering this scandal stood Patel.

More than anyone, Patel sought the truth. He remained committed to his work, driven not by politics or ambition but by integrity and good faith. As senior counsel for the House Intelligence Committee, he led one of the most consequential investigations in modern political history. He never sought self-promotion, career advancement, or approval from Washington’s entrenched bureaucracy.

That kind of dedication is rare in Washington, D.C. Many enter public service only to advance their own ambitions, putting political gains above the facts and the fair application of the law. Patel, however, remains focused on preserving the rule of law and holding power centers accountable.

Ironically, this mission makes him a threat to the political establishment — including within the FBI.

His commitment to restoring the FBI’s true purpose makes his nomination more important than ever. On that evening in July 2018, his words were not complex, but they were powerful. They embodied everything he stood for.

A skeptic becomes an advocate

I admit I was skeptical of Patel when we first met. Our paths crossed when he took over oversight of international counterterrorism organizations at the NSC. As a former Army Green Beret and mid-level government bureaucrat on loan from the Department of Defense, I prided myself on being aggressively apolitical.

Before working with him, I had only seen Patel through the lens of internet coverage, which painted him as a divisive partisan figure. The media labeled him a “right-wing operative,” accusing him of trying to “punish” the FBI with the infamous “Nunes Memo.

But those claims were false.

Patel represents the American dream. His sharp legal acumen and relentless work ethic propelled him to nearly every corner of the legal landscape. That tenacity quickly earned him the trust of President Trump, his closest advisers, and even career national security officials.

Most importantly, Patel delivers when it matters.

Leadership under pressure

During the Trump administration, we had an opportunity to dismantle al-Qaeda’s remaining leadership, an achievement once thought impossible. I made it my top priority. However, my efforts faced resistance from Pentagon and CIA leadership. Their reluctance — whether due to bureaucracy or outright hostility — stood in the way.

I knew the only way to get the job done required direct presidential intervention, something beyond my reach. Patel stepped in without hesitation. “I got it,” he said. “I’ll talk to the president.”

That was Patel’s strength — he knew how to cut through bureaucracy and drive real action. We became close confidants. When I needed a deputy, I knew Patel was the right person to step up.

He was a leader — professional, polite, and decent to everyone around him. But he never sacrificed his core beliefs or love for the country just to maintain the status quo. He complemented my often haphazard approach with sharp discernment, cutting through complex situations to offer clear, concise guidance.

Though his detractors labeled him a “heartless, sycophantic fundamentalist,” Patel proved to be the exact opposite. He understood government intricacies and navigated them with empathy, a sharp mind, and total professionalism.

And let’s be clear — our work was not political. Patel and I were part of a 20-person team, all career civil servants or military officers from both parties. The exception was Patel. Yet his effectiveness and integrity earned him the respect of those around him.

A defining moment: The Philip Walton rescue

Patel’s leadership extended beyond policy and intelligence work. One of the greatest displays of moral courage I ever witnessed was his commitment to rescuing Philip Walton.

On October 26, 2020, militants kidnapped Walton from his farm in Niger, intending to sell him to a regional terrorist group. The captors made a fatal mistake by staying in the same location for three nights in a row. Intelligence reports confirmed their whereabouts, but time was running out.

Patel was with President Trump at a hostage rescue operations unit when the intelligence came in. He understood the kidnappers’ strategy, recalling the 2016 case of American missionary Jeffrey Woodke, who was kidnapped in Niger and sold to an al-Qaeda faction. Woodke remained in captivity for years before French commandos finally rescued him.

Patel knew immediate action was necessary. If the kidnappers moved, Walton could disappear into a terror network, possibly forever. Patel briefed the president, who immediately ordered military forces to act.

U.S. Navy SEALs, supported by Air Force special operations teams, launched one of the most complex hostage rescue missions in history. Patel and I monitored the operation from the White House Situation Room.

This was not his first time leading in high-pressure situations. Just months earlier, we had advised President Trump during the operation to eliminate ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Yet unlike that mission, where top officials — including Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel — actively participated, they sent lower-level staffers this time. Pentagon officials Mark Esper and General Mark Milley resisted Patel’s request to conduct the briefing at the Pentagon, despite the logistical advantages.

Nevertheless, the operation succeeded. Walton was rescued, and three of his four captors were killed.

The mission underscored Patel’s moral clarity and operational expertise. When America needed action, he delivered. Meanwhile, career bureaucrats in Washington prioritized politics over results.

The right choice for the FBI

A few days later, on Nov. 9, 2020, President Trump fired Esper, and I stepped in as acting secretary of defense. I accepted the role only because Patel agreed to serve as my chief of staff. Together, we executed Trump’s directives, winding down the War on Terror, bringing troops home from unnecessary conflicts, and ensuring that service members and their families had a voice.

In December 2020, Patel and I visited the Navy SEALs who rescued Philip Walton. As we stood among those heroes, I was reminded why America remains the ultimate meritocracy. Patel, the son of immigrants, rose through the ranks by studying, working hard, and making difficult decisions. He demonstrated that integrity and courage still have a place in public service.

Now, as Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Patel represents exactly what the American people need. The rank-and-file agents of the FBI deserve leadership that empowers them to carry out their mission — protecting the country, not serving political interests.

Patel will demand the highest standards of conduct while treating FBI agents with respect and dignity. He will enforce the Constitution without bias, something the agency desperately needs.

America needs a strong, principled FBI director. Kash Patel is the right man for the job.