No Threat To Plainfield As Of Now Due To Protests: Police

PLAINFIELD, IL — As protests tore across Illinois to condemn the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died in Minneapolis on Monday after a police officer kneeled on Floyd's neck while trying to arrest him, Plainfield Chief of Police John Konopek released a statement on Facebook assuring residents that the department wasn't aware of any threat in the village.

Police also said westbound Route 30 is closed at the I-55 ramp.

"Peaceful protests have unfortunately been derailed in many locations by instigators intent on causing damage, and in some instances even injuries to first responders and the general public," Konopek said.

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He said the department has been seeing several social media posts, and has received numerous phone calls about some of these events coming close to Plainfield.

"Some local stores have made the decision to close early based on direction from their corporate leadership, not because of any instruction from the Village of Plainfield," he said. "At this time we do not have any credible information regarding any threat in the Village of Plainfield, but we continue to monitor the situation. Plainfield Police are maintaining a high profile presence around town, and our mutual aid partners stand ready to assist us if the need arises, as we do the same for them."

Konopek said the department relies on the community members and partnerships, working together to keep Plainfield safe.

He urged residents to call 911 if they notice anything unseemly in their neighborhoods.

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