Palatine police defend officer who assisted federal agents

Palatine police officials are defending the actions of an officer who intervened in a confrontation involving federal agents and citizens Monday morning.

According to police, officers responded to a report of a disturbance at 11:50 a.m. on the 1100 block of East Dundee Road. Initial reports indicated three individuals wearing police insignia were trying to arrest a customer at the business.

When they arrived, officers determined that the three individuals were federal agents trying to take a person into custody. A crowd of about 20 people had gathered, several shouting obscenities as they moved closer to the agents, according to the police account.

An officer positioned himself between the agents and the crowd to ensure the safety of all present and maintain order, department officials said.

“Given the subject’s noncompliance, the agitated crowd, and the potential risk of injury, the officer made a split-second decision to assist in stabilizing the situation,” police said. “The officer provided verbal instructions in Spanish to the subject and grasped the subject’s right arm, which was already being handcuffed, while agents secured the left arm helping to bring the incident to a safe and peaceful resolution.”

Despite the officer’s intervention, police issued a statement Monday saying the department “remains committed to complying with all state laws.”

Under the state’s TRUST Act, local law enforcement officers are prohibited from assisting federal agents in civil immigration enforcement operations.

“The police department is here to serve and protect all members of our community equally,” the statement reads. “Residents should feel safe reporting crimes without fear of immigration repercussions.”

In response to a video of the events circulating online Monday, Palatine officials said two of the federal agents involved are wearing green attire while the third is in blue. The Palatine officers were in full uniform with their Palatine police patches clearly displayed on both sleeves.