Chicago’s former top detective, Eugene Roy, has spoken out against the city’s no-cash bail policies, which he claims have created a dangerous environment for communities and strained police resources. His criticism comes amid President Donald Trump’s executive order to eliminate no-cash bail, which has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of these policies across the United States. Roy, who served with the Chicago Police Department from 1986 to 2016, pointed to the gradual shift in city leadership as the catalyst for the current system, which he argues has led to a surge in violent crimes and a lack of accountability for offenders.
Roy emphasized that the SAFE-T Act, which became law in September 2023, has had disastrous consequences for public safety, allowing violent suspects to be released on the streets immediately after committing crimes. He cited examples of individuals, such as Diashun Dixson, who was released on bail for a brutal attack and later allegedly assaulted a college student at Union Station.