South Cook News

David Sheppard, a candidate for Illinois State Representative in District 36, criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker's association with a "peacekeeper" who was later arrested for violent crimes. Sheppard described this as indicative of careless leadership and pledged zero tolerance and accountability. This statement was made during an interview.

"Enough is enough," said Sheppard. "Illinois citizens deserve to be protected—not put at risk by leaders who can't vet their own events. To hear that Governor Pritzker posed for a photo with a ‘peacekeeper' who days later was arrested for a smash-and-grab + a deadly crash is not just careless—it's an outrage. If I win, you'll see zero tolerance, better vetting, accountability, and actual protection—not window dressing."

ABC7 Chicago reported in September 2025 that a man serving as a state-funded "peacekeeper" was photographed with Governor Pritzker shortly before being arrested for a Louis Vuitton smash-and-grab burglary and a deadly crash that resulted in the death of Mark Arceta. While Pritzker’s office said he did not know the individual personally, the photograph prompted criticism regarding the program’s vetting and oversight, raising broader questions about crime prevention initiatives.

According to the Chicago Police Department’s 2024 in Review report, robberies decreased by 17% from the previous year, robberies involving firearms declined by 33%, and motor vehicle thefts fell by 26%. Despite these improvements, high-profile smash-and-grab retail crimes continued to keep public concern elevated, illustrating the complexity of Chicago’s crime situation between 2023 and 2025.

The Illinois Peacekeepers program is funded and overseen by the Department of Human Services’ Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, which allocated approximately $30 million for July 2023 through June 2024. According to IDHS (Illinois Department of Human Services), the program is subject to federal grant compliance rules under Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 (2 CFR 200), requiring strict reporting and accountability standards for providers.

Sheppard, a Republican who ran for Illinois House District 36 in 2022, previously served in the U.S. Navy and spent 28 years in law enforcement, including as a police chief. His campaign platform focused on public safety, government accountability, and offering competition in a district long dominated by Democrats.

Illinois House District 36 includes parts of Chicago’s Southwest Side and suburbs such as Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Beverly, and Mount Greenwood. Democrat Kelly M. Burke has held the seat since 2011 and defeated Sheppard in 2022 with 61.8% of the vote, reflecting the district’s continued Democratic lean in recent elections.