Illinois Watchdogs Put Government on Notice –

Kraft and Allen are the best examples of law enforcement we have in Illinois.
Look at what these two citizens have accomplished to expose massive wrongdoing In Illinois. Makes you wonder why our elected officials are not as competent as these public servants?

You guys are GREAT! Keep up the good work. Make Illinois Great Again. MIGA!

Many thanks for shining a light!

Nice PR for civilians holding government accountable (I noted someone put up a smear website bashing the ECW, but by the time I ran across it, I had already read the numerous mainstream news outlet pieces covering their work). Good to link to the good press to debunk the naysayers.

Also, maybe look into the town of Elmhurst sometime. There is currently a kerfuffle going on over adding advanced life support capabilities so the actual fire department can tend to those in need of ALS services. The firefighter union supports this, but Elmhurst officials have argued that the locals are well served by the cut throat, for profit entity Superior Air-Ground Ambulance.

Um…has anyone read their Better Business Bureau complaints lately?

https://www.bbb.org/us/il/elmhurst/profile/ambulance-services/superior-ambulance-service-0654-14007241/customer-reviews

Go FOIA the Illinois Attorney General for additional complaints sometime. Also, they were in the news in very recent years over a driver not even transporting a patient but who, nonetheless, managed to either push or drag a Passat vehicle across all lanes of traffic. The Passat was stopped at the time it was hit (I assume this means brake lights should’ve been clearly visible).

Now someone is going to chime in with “union firefighters cost more than a private service,” but couldn’t Elmhurst find anyone with less–err–major baggage in the form of lawsuit. air and ground traffic crashes alike and former executives pleading guilty to embezzlement?? No other private, for profit entity to consider?

And where’s the monetary savings after all the legal settlements and victim hospital bills get paid out in these cases? These privately owned and run entities often put very inexperienced ambulance drivers out on the roadways with just a few months on the job experience. Take a look at the for profit ambulance business model; they don’t exactly top load with high wages, tons of experience and state of the art rigs when seeking profits. You end up with overworked, underpaid, exhausted EMTs, some also very inexperienced.

All for a market economy in general, but for profit healthcare has real problems. Big problems. Just look at the private equity run nursing homes and COVID deaths for another example.

So what are Elmhurst officials whining about how it will be too costly to equip the firefighters with advanced life support capabilities? Maybe the Watchdogs should FOIA every expenditure aside from EMS vendor contracts and see if they are being hypocrites while spending on other things? Very curious about that!

Well deserved coverage!!

Thanks for all you do.

Great job guys and thanks for all you do! Well deserved accolades!

Outstanding. Keep people honest if they won’t do it themselves.

Kraft and Allen generally approach local governments by providing information and making requests….at least that’s my impression after reading from their work and publications for some time. It’s when officials flaunt these actions that a more ‘biting’, tenacious tact ensues. So far, the good press they get from time to time doesn’t emphasis ECWd’s otherwise kind, or affable, approach. The poignant strive for better has to recognize what’s done well, or at least fairly good from time to time. Honestly opined by an avid Illinois Leaks reader and public body partner.

They only whine when you’re over the target. Keep it up Watchdogs.

We in Illinois are blessed to have Edgar County Watchdogs! Thank you!