FAYETTE COUNTY — The Fayette County Sheriff and his jail administrator submitted letters of resignation Tuesday, pointing to new police reform laws recently passed in Illinois as the reason for leaving their roles by October 1.

Sheriff Chris Palmer says in his resignation letter that laws recently passed by the legislature “have put a massive financial and professional liability on law enforcement officers statewide.”

Palmer says officers are leaving their law enforcement jobs in the state in large numbers noting the recent retirements of sheriffs in Clinton and Marion counties and the retirements of police chiefs in other nearby communities.

Koonce noted in his letter that he does not see any reason to risk any part of his retirement or family farm due to new reform laws that are letting down law-abiding citizens and the true victims of crime.