To the Editor:
On February 13, 2026, an officer of the Colchester Police Department approached my 11-year-old granddaughter while she stopped on E. South St. on her Class 2 E-bike. He did not have on a police uniform and the car he was driving was unmarked. He did not show her any ID or badge and was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. He followed her home in his car and when she entered our home she was very frightened and crying uncontrollably. My granddaughter is a “special needs” child and I hope in the future the officer would contact me before interacting with my granddaughter.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board updated its guidelines regarding children on December 11, 2025 and it recommends an officer should contact the parent or guardian before approaching a child.
Respectfully, Sterling Thomas Yaste Colchester
