Official Statement Regarding State's Attorney's Office Operations During COVID-19

Please read the below press release from DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, featuring DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, regarding law enforcement efforts and State’s Attorney operations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:

“The past two weeks have been trying times to be sure. There is great uncertainty among us and that uncertainty, if left unchecked, can breed fear,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “That being said, I want to reassure the residents of DuPage County that the current shelter-in-place order issued by the Governor in response to the coronavirus pandemic will in no way affect law enforcement efforts. Several days ago, DuPage County suffered its second murder since the pandemic hit. Both of these murders were domestic in nature and in both cases the suspect was quickly apprehended. Neither case presented a danger to the general public. While much remains uncertain at this point, there is one thing of which I am certain - law enforcement in DuPage County is second to none. The dedication and professionalism exhibited by our men and women in uniform and our Assistant State’s Attorney’s in the courtrooms has always impressed me, but the efforts put forth by these brave individuals during this crisis are nothing short of heroic. They are, quite literally, risking their lives to protect the residents of DuPage County and for that we all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

“I just want our DuPage County citizens to know that we are still out here in full force to help them. We are answering all calls for service, we are maintaining a truly professional operation in our correctional facility, we are keeping peace in the courthouse and still processing all evidence in our crime laboratory,” Sheriff James Mendrick said. “We will not falter; we are here for all of you during any time of need. We just ask that everyone work together, use the common sense approaches to prevent contagion transfer and don’t panic. We are the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office. We have your back.”

“While the days and weeks to follow may at times feel overwhelming, I urge all DuPage County residents to keep calm, stay informed and listen to authorities, secure in the knowledge that your local police department, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and my office will continue doing our jobs protecting the public,” Berlin concluded.

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