Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen met Tuesday with law enforcement leaders, elected officials, community leaders, judges, and public safety officials from throughout Kenosha County at a law enforcement roundtable hosted by state Sen. Robert Wirch and state Reps. Samantha Kerkman and Tom Lothian.
Topics discussed at the roundtable included the open carry memo, Internet Crimes Against Children, law enforcement cuts in the state budget, the need for background checks on certain employment, ordinances governing sex offender residency requirements and the importance of DNA analysis and funding for the State Crime Lab. The meeting took place at the Kenosha County Center, Bristol.
“Having the opportunity to listen to local law enforcement, community leaders and elected officials from Kenosha County lends itself to a meaningful dialogue as to how the Department of Justice and state government can better assist Kenosha County ,” Van Hollen said.
Kerkman said she thought the roundtable was useful so all levels of government could hear about concerns of law enforcement officers.
“As government officials from the local level to the federal level work together to improve public safety within our communities, it is imperative that we have feedback from those who deal with this issue on a daily basis,” said Kerkman. “Their ideas and suggestions will no doubt help in either restructuring or passing new laws to make our communities safer. We sincerely appreciate their service.”
Salem town Chairman Linda Valentine said she was encourgaed by what she heard from Van Hollen.
“It is not often that the attorney general is here to speak without a predetermined agenda,” Valentine said. “I found him to be fair, personable, very sharp, very much into data collection as part of a decision making process … and very willing to listen to participants. I have a comfortable feeling with him in the office and that he will represent the state well.”
Are “roundtables” like this recorded with minutes prepared after the meeting? Are citizens invited to participatge in these “roundtables”?
If the answer is no – will the restructuring and the passage of new laws that come out of the “roundtables” affect the private individual who will not have the ability to speak on the issues?
Just pondering…..