SPRINGFIELD, IL – Senator William R. Haine (D – Alton) issued the following statement regarding the signing of House Bill 3877:

I was especially proud to pick up this legislation from Representative Holbrook and carry it through the Senate at the request of Fairview Heights Chief of Police Ed Delmore. This is a measure that truly recognizes the value of the services of veterans. At the same time, the bill will assist law enforcement agencies by allowing them to choose from a wide, more experienced pool of applicants.  As an individual who served his country during the Vietnam War and a former State’s Attorney who has worked closely with law enforcement officials, I can say with certitude that the values that make a good soldier are the same values that make a good police officer. While the training and the mission are different, they are similar professions that require a commitment to duty, justice, and service. I am confident that this legislation will help widen opportunities for both military veterans and law enforcement agencies.