Sheehan, a police officer with nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience, signed onto a letter led by House Republican leaders and members of the Truth in Public Safety (TIPS) Working Group. The group is calling for what it describes as targeted, practical reforms to the SAFE-T Act following the governor’s recent comments signaling a willingness to consider revisions to the law.

“The SAFE-T Act has revealed serious flaws in how Illinois handles pretrial release, repeat offenders, and violations of court-ordered conditions,” Sheehan said in a statement. “Our goal is to protect innocent people, support law enforcement, and ensure that accountability exists when someone violates the trust of the system.”

According to Sheehan and his colleagues, the letter outlines a series of legislative proposals developed with input from law enforcement professionals and prosecutors within the House Republican caucus. The proposed changes are intended to address gaps that lawmakers say have put communities, crime victims, and first responders at risk since the SAFE-T Act took effect.

Among the reforms outlined in the letter are measures that would allow state’s attorneys to seek revocation of pretrial release when defendants violate court-ordered conditions, expand the list of offenses eligible for pretrial detention, and restore the use of warrants when individuals fail to appear in court. The proposals also include strengthened protections for victims, particularly in cases involving domestic violence and crimes against children.

“These are practical solutions shaped by decades of real-world experience,” Sheehan said. “They reflect what police officers, prosecutors, and communities have been asking for—clear authority, clear consequences, and laws that put public safety first.”

The House Republican TIPS Working Group has met regularly across multiple General Assemblies to analyze crime trends, gather stakeholder feedback, and develop proposals it describes as bipartisan and evidence-based. Members of the group are now calling on the governor and Democratic legislative leaders to engage in discussions and advance changes during upcoming legislative sessions.

The SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail and overhauled aspects of Illinois’ criminal justice system, has remained a focal point of debate since its implementation, drawing both praise from reform advocates and criticism from law enforcement and some prosecutors.