STATE’S ATTORNEY BIRKETT TO ADDRESS ILLINOIS DRUG ENFORCMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett today addressed the Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association (IDEOA) at their annual Training Conference held this year in Peoria.

Founded in 1989, the IDEOA is a non-profit association governed by law enforcement personnel from the Chicago Police Department, the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the DuPage County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad, the Cook County Sheriff’s Police, the Illinois State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The group strives to create and maintain viable lines of communication and coordination of efforts among drug law enforcement entities and to provide narcotics enforcement personnel with training appropriate to their mission.

In his remarks, Birkett commented on the relationship between prosecutors and the law enforcement community.  “It is imperative that all of us here today work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the criminal justice system,” commented Birkett.  “As prosecutors, it is our responsibility to provide legal advice to law enforcement agencies on matters relating to criminal investigations.  In addition, we must help in training law enforcement in the areas of pre-trial criminal procedures such as search and seizure, the arrest process, the use of force and interrogation. As stewards of justice, we must work together to balance effective law enforcement and the rights of individuals.”

IDEOA membership consists of sworn law enforcement officers whose primary responsibility is the enforcement of narcotics laws in the state of Illinois.

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