Kane County law enforcement officials have offered additional details on the increased security around political events announced last week after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Law enforcement will be adding additional security checkpoints for these events, increasing deputy presence at events and conducting drop-ins at election locations, according to a follow-up joint statement from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and Kane County Sheriff’s Office. Officials previously announced that there would also be an increase in patrols at these events.
“We will not disclose further information on these locations for added security at this time or the methodology of how we are organizing these entities,” Kane County law enforcement officials said in the joint statement.
As a further security measure, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office is planning to monitor social media for indications of political violence or retribution, the statement said.
These changes will be implemented for any event with political significance, no matter the level of government or type, that takes place within Kane County’s borders, according to Kane County Undersheriff Amy Johnson.
She said in a phone call that political rallies, elections, local political party meetings and more will qualify for advanced security leading up to the November election.
The Kane County Sheriff’s Office has sent patrols to check-in on polling locations in previous elections, Johnson said. Those efforts will be doubled for November’s election, she said.
Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog, in her own statement from last week, thanked county law enforcement for these security efforts.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
