DU PAGE COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
TO HOST ETHICS TRAINING CONFERENCE

WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that his office will be hosting an ethics training seminar tomorrow, May 21 at the DuPage County Complex located at 503 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton.  The Conference, entitled “Conducting Public Business – Ethical Obligations and Deterring Corruption” is open to all DuPage County elected and appointed officials as well as the attorneys who represent them. 

The Conference will feature speakers and discussions on the topics of Public Contracts and Bidding, Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act, Conflicts of Interests and Gift Ban Act, Whistleblower Protection and Official Misconduct and Bribery.

“Public corruption and abuse of power continue to be a major societal concern,” remarked Birkett.   “With appropriate training however, such as this Conference, as well as improved supervision, policies and practices, we can deter official misconduct, reduce honest mistakes and regain the public trust.  This Conference is a continuation of my efforts to increase the knowledge of DuPage County elected and appointed officials, as well as their staff, and in doing so guard against breaches of the public trust.”  

Specially invited guest Patrick Collins, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, lead prosecutor in U.S. v. Ryan and Chairman of the Illinois Reform Commission will discuss the role of the prosecutor in public corruption.  Also scheduled to speak at the conference are: State’s Attorney Birkett; Nancy Wolfe, First Assistant, DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office; Mike Luke, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Illinois Attorney General’s Office and Tom Downing, Civil Division Chief, DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

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