CCSAO Spotlight for Friday, November 19, 2021

Cook County, Illinois sent this bulletin at 11/19/2021 02:30 PM CST

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Team,

As the holiday season approaches, I hope you can safely travel and spend time with loved ones that you may not have been able to spend time with last year. For each of you, I wish peace, serenity, and joy during the holiday season.

I also want to thank the many people in our office required to work on holidays, in addition to other first responders and front-line workers who keep our criminal justice system operating. Their sacrifices should not be forgotten.

Kim

Do you have any news to share about awards, recognitions, SAO events, criminal justice-related stories, or other personal news? Send them to us here.

Spotlight "Discovery" Question

Today's Question: Who is a veteran in your family, the community, or in the SAO you would like to thank for their service?

Rosanna Doria (Narcotics) nominated her nephew, Specialist Lawrence Doria Jr. Lawrence served in the Army for four years with one year in combat in Afghanistan. Rosanna is grateful he continues to be the heartbeat of her family.

Rosanna Doria's nephew - Specialist Lawrence Doria Jr.

The Traffic Unit nominated Maurice Rice II (Traffic), who served from 2002 to 2010 as a military police squad leader in the Army, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He served two combat tours in Iraq, including 15 months in the 2008 "surge", during which he received the Bronze Star.

Maurice Rice II shaking President Obama's hand in 2009 at Camp Liberty.

Elizabeth Reedy (Alternative Prosecution and Sentencing) was nominated for over 35 years of service in the signal corps and the Judge Advocate General’s Corps across the United States, eastern Europe, central Europe, and southwest Asia with all U. S. military branches in addition to NATO allies.

Elizabeth Reedy served in the military for over 35 years.

Several people nominated William “Bill” Kelly (Special Prosecutions Bureau), whom we lost suddenly last month. Bill served 32 years in the Army Reserve. As a psychological operations officer, Bill commanded at the platoon, detachment, company, and battalion levels. He served three deployments in support of the Global War on Terror and was awarded the Bronze Star.

William “Bill” Kelly served 32 years in the Army Reserve.

Also see the several SAO staff highlighted on the SAO Twitter page on Veteran's Day.

For the next Spotlight: What's your "why?"

State's Attorney Foxx made heartfelt remarks at the ASA swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday about the "whys" in her life that inspired her to dedicate her life to reforming the criminal justice system: her grandma Myrtle, mother Gennell, and cousin Cookie, who passed away this week.

So, for the next Spotlight, the Discovery question is What is your "why" for the work you do at the SAO?

Send your answers here.

Upcoming Events and Announcements

WISE Partnership with "No Kid Hungry"

The Women’s Insight and Support through Education (WISE) ERG is sponsoring a virtual holiday giving event with the organization No Kid Hungry. Click here to donate.

Staff in the Community

New ASA Swearing-in

On Tuesday, State's Attorney Foxx welcomed 29 new ASAs to the growing class of 2021. The newly sworn-in ASAs were joined by family and friends at the Chicago-Kent School of Law auditorium and heard remarks from former first assistant Judge Arthur F. Hill, Jr., and members of the SAO Executive Team.

First Assistant Risa Lanier, serving as master of ceremonies, welcomed the new ASAs, their families, and SAO team members.

Keynote speaker Judge Arthur F. Hill, Jr. described how his father was the smartest man he knew despite leaving school in the sixth grade, and how his mother was the strongest person he knew despite her small stature. He spoke about how their inspiration guided him to public service and how their lessons forged his ethical compass.

Judge Arthur F. Hill, Jr. giving the keynote address.

State's Attorney Foxx spoke next, first sharing that her cousin Cookie, one of her inspirations for becoming a prosecutor and public servant, had died just hours earlier.

State's Attorney Foxx spoke about how Cookie had struggled with mental health disorders, substance abuse, poverty, and interactions with the criminal justice system throughout her life. State's Attorney Foxx continues to be hopeful that the criminal justice system would treat individuals like Cookie as people rather than stereotypes or statistics. She reiterated the important role prosecutors have to administer justice, especially during this particular time in history.

State's Attorney Foxx speaking during the ASA swearing-in ceremony.

State's Attorney Foxx then swore in the new ASAs.

Chief of Staff Alyson Miller followed up by reading the names of each new ASA and welcoming them to the office.

Chief of Staff Alyson Miller welcoming the new ASAs.

A big thanks to Shawn Eddington-Levesque (Legal Hiring), Tanesha McGahee (Legal Hiring), Christina Chan (Community Engagement), and Tolu Tepede (Human Resources) for helping coordinate this event!

Safety Walk in West Chesterfield

On November 2, Kim New (CJC-South) organized a safety walk in response to a recent carjacking on 91st and Indiana in the West Chesterfield community. CJC-South partnered with Chicago Police District 6, the Chatham Club, and community members.

CJC-South, the Chicago Police Department, and community members participating in a safety walk.

Wilson/Sheridan Business Walk

On Monday, November 8, the CJC-North, Chicago Police District 19, the Uptown Chamber of Commerce, and the 46th Ward Office conducted a business walk in Uptown to connect community members to listen to and address their concerns.

Christine Washkevich (CJC-North) speaks with residents about crime in the Uptown neighborhood.

Notable SAO Achievements

Charges Filed in the Schaumburg Stabbing

The SAO recently approved charges for a fatal stabbing in Schaumburg that gained heavy media attention.

Even though charges weren’t initially filed when presented, Rolling Meadows leadership, with the Felony Review Unit's assistance, worked closely with the Schaumburg Police Department to build a case that allowed charges to be approved this week based on additional evidence.

Thank you to the Rolling Meadows team and Felony Review Unit for their dedication in this case.

From Singer to ASA

Danielle Austriaco (CAB) was only 10 she was chosen to sing the song "Reflections" from the movie Mulan at the 2006 SAO Asian American and Pacific Islander Awards ceremony for then-State's Attorney Richard Devine. Danielle was so good that she was invited back to the ceremony in 2009 for then-State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to sing "Wind Beneath My Wings".

Danielle was drawn to the law as a result of watching her mom, also an attorney, and the countless people her mother helped as a litigator. While in law school Danielle was drawn to State's Attorney Foxx's vision for the role of a prosecutorial office in criminal justice reform.

15 years later, Danielle's come full circle as she has graduated from Chicago-Kent Law School, passed the bar, and on Tuesday was sworn in as an ASA.

Left: Danielle Austriaco singing in 2009 at the Asian American and Pacific Islander Awards ceremony. Right: Danielle standing with State's Attorney Foxx on Tuesday, November 16 after being sworn in as an ASA.

In the News

Laura Washington Sun-Times Column

State's Attorney Foxx and the SAO were profiled in a column by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington last Monday. Below is a highlight:

According to the Cook County state’s attorney’s latest annual report, the CPD received 242,859 criminal incident reports between Nov. 1, 2020, and Oct. 31, 2021. In that period, 23,969 incidents resulted in at least one offender being arrested, for an overall arrest rate of 10%. That includes 738 homicides and 182 arrests, for an arrest rate of 25%. For 3,516 shootings, the arrest rate was 10%; for 1,839 vehicular hijackings, a 15% arrest rate.

Foxx cannot prosecute criminals if the police aren’t arresting them.

New York Times Magazine

State's Attorney Foxx was featured in an article about progressive prosecutors across the country in the New York Times Magazine. Below is a highlight:

“It’s an inconvenient truth for many who use the banner of victims that most of our victims have not been the ones they have empathy for traditionally.”