Zach's Strange Corner of Thought
You Made A Wrong Turn Awhile Back!
So, how often are Sheriff’s Deputies requesting SWAT assistance from BPD or any SWAT team in the area?
After a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Agitation Rising has discovered McLean County Sheriff’s Deputies have only requested SWAT assistance from another department once in the last year & a half.
Agitation Rising previously reported that the Bloomington City Council would have to approve the EAGLE intergovernmental agreement between the McLean County Deputies Office and the Bloomington Police Department (BPD). This is not the case. The EAGLE agreement requires each agency funds its own equipment and training. Funding for BPD’s SWAT team has already been appropriated by the Bloomington City Council, and the agreement would not require additional funding for BPD.
Agitation Rising also implied that Task Force 6 had its own separate SWAT team. This is untrue. Task Force 6 relies on the SWAT teams of its constituent members.
These errors have been corrected.
This team would give a blank check for more money towards policing. How many calls for service annually by the Sheriff’s Deputies even require a SWAT response? This information was not included in the draft proposal submitted to the McLean County Justice Committee.
With a new sheriff, the McLean County Detention Facility faces new challenges in a post-COVID landscape. Replacing the perpetually perfidious Jon Sandage, Matt Lane took the position of Sheriff in December 2023 and is responsible for running the county jail.
| Average Population |
|---|
| 213 |
| Highest Population | Lowest Population |
|---|---|
| 237 (2/12/2023 & 2/17/2023) | 173 (12/23/2022) |
| Average charged with drug offense | Average Age over 50 |
|---|---|
| 56 (26%) | 27 (13%) |
| Total Arrivals | Total Releases |
|---|---|
| 1298 | 1216 |
The Sheriff currently has no SWAT capabilities and often has to rely on Illinois State Police assistance. McLean County is the largest county by land-mass in Illinois. Lane said if a deputy needs assistance while out in the field, it could take nearly thirty minutes for back-up to arrive.
