Should Joliet Help Keep Jason Van Dyke Incarcerated?

Joliet IL

02 February, 2022

4:00 PM

Description

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk said that Tuesday night was an odd meeting for the Joliet City Council. A large portion of the discussion was dominated by Chicago-based community activists demanding that U.S. Attorney John Lausch bring federal charges against Jason Van Dyke, the former Chicago police officer who killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald in 2014. Van Dyke was sentenced to 81 months in prison after he became the first Chicago Police officer in 50 years to be convicted of murder in connection with an on-duty incident. He is set to be released from prison on Feb. 3. "You have a resident here that we need to make contact with. That resident is John Lausch, he's the U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Illinois," announced Chicago community organizer William Calloway, addressing the Joliet Council. "John Lausch has the legal authority to file federal charges on Jason Van Dyke. We demand Mayor Bob that you and the Council reach out to this resident and let him know people of Chicago demand him to file federal charges on Jason Van Dyke immediately." According to O'Dekirk, Lausch does not currently live in Joliet. He grew up in Joliet. Still, several people who addressed the Joliet Council incorrectly suggested Lausch resides in Joliet. Lausch was appointed to the position by President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden agreed to keep Lausch in the role. Chicago community organizer William Calloway wants Joliet native John Lausch to file federal charges against Jason Van Dyke. Image via city of Joliet Calloway ended his remarks to the Joliet Council by saying, "This is the first time we have come. We need charges. We need justice, and we do come in peace." On Wednesday, O'Dekirk told Patch that he spoke with about 10 of the out-of-town community organizers after the meeting. The mayor said he's open to having a dialogue with them. But in the case of Lausch, O'Dekirk said he will not be getting involved in the Van Dyke case. "I'm not going to pursue that," O'Dekirk said. "The U.S. Attorney runs the U.S. Attorney's Office, and we should be concerned about the city of Joliet." Related Patch coverage: Former Chicago Cop Jason Van Dyke To Be Freed On Feb. 3: Reports