Edward Acevedo

Acevedo is a police officer for the Chicago Police Department. He was decorated for heroism and valor by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for rescuing victims trapped in a fire.[1]

In 2013, Acevedo stopped an unarmed 16-year-old boy after dark on Chicago's northwest side. Acevedo was enraged to learn that the boy was not carrying any identification, at one point yelling “How am I supposed to identify your dead body if I find you on the streets?”.[2] The boy was frightened and fled down a nearby alley, to which Acevedo responded by firing at him 3 times with his service pistol. Acevedo hit the boy in the arm and leg, while missing his third shot. Though critically injured, the boy survived and recovered from the encounter. Two years after the shooting, the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) cleared Acevedo of any wrongdoing.[2]

Acevedo voted for[17] a bill that allows for minors to obtain abortions without family or judicial notification by seeking counseling with a licensed medical counseling professional.

He voted against[17] a bill that allows stem cell research but prohibits human cloning.

He voted for[17] a bill that prohibits smoking in public places.

Acevedo sponsored and voted for[18] House Bill HB429 which as of June 1, 2008, removed the right of Illinois wine buyers to buy wine from out-of-state wine stores.[19]

Acevedo voted against HB 3944 which would have amended the electronic eavesdropping act to permit citizens to make recordings of a police officer "who is performing a public duty in a public place and any other person who is having a conversation with that law enforcement officer if the conversation is at a volume audible to the unassisted ear of the person who is making the recording."

He voted against[17] a bill that prohibits the use of eminent domain to acquire property for private ownership or control unless the acquisition is primarily for the benefit, use, or enjoyment of the public and is necessary for a public purpose. The bill states that unless proven otherwise, the use of eminent domain for private ownership or control of blighted areas, as defined, or by private utilities and railroads for any purpose meets these tests. The bill also requires the payment of reasonable relocation costs to individuals displaced by an eminent domain action. The bill also makes numerous other adjustments to eminent domain laws.

He sponsored House Bill 2971, which would remove language in Illinois law which says that new nuclear plants can not be built until a solution for storing tons of radioactive waste is found. Lifting the 20-year-old moratorium on the construction of new nuclear facilities in Illinois.[20]

He voted for[17] a bill that requires Illinois electric suppliers to grant consumers an electricity relief package. Grants ComEd and Ameren customers $976 in relief from 2007 to 2010 (Sec. 16-111.5A).

He voted no on several firearm bills that would let law-abiding citizens protect themselves with a firearm. e.g. HB-148-The Family and Personal Protection Act (Which has been endorsed by the Chicago Police Lieutenants Association)& HR0550-Firearm Public Awareness, but Mr. Acevedo carries a firearm to protect himself and his family. Voted 'yes' to several safety bills to crack down on individuals who sell firearms without a license.

He did not vote[21] on HB 5285 a bill that would allow for the extending parental health insurance to unmarried dependents.

He voted for[17] a bill that allows the Secretary of State to issue driver's certificates to an applicant who is an immigrant residing in this State, is ineligible to obtain a social security number, and is ineligible to receive a driver's license.

He did not vote[22] on HB 4201 which would create a property tax exemption for disabled veterans.

Acevedo voted to concur[23] with the Governor's amendment which proposed that any fixed route public transportation services provided by the Chicago Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Board, the Suburban Bus Board, all Local Mass Districts, and certain participants in the Downstate Public Transportation Fund shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older, subject to certain residency requirements and under conditions determined by the transit board.

He voted yes[24] to fund the Regional Transportation Authority through the motor fuel tax. This bill redirects 80 percent of the revenue collected from the 6.25 percent tax on motor fuel in the six Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) to the Public Transportation Fund [sec. 4.09 (a)(2)].

He also voted yes[25] to pass a bill that amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act by increasing the rate of taxes the Authority is allowed to impose and requiring the Authority to provide oversight of the Service Boards. This bill also designates funds for the support and improvement of public transportation. - Allows the City of Chicago to impose a real estate transfer tax of up to $1.50 per $500 of value [Sec. 3-2.3(E)]. - Allows for a 0.25% increase in the sales tax in the Chicago metropolitan area [Sec. 4.03(e-g)]. - Outlines the distribution of tax revenues to various Service Boards (Sec. 4.03.3).

He did not vote[22] on HB 4201 which would create a property tax exemption for disabled veterans.