![Chicago veteran prosecutor quits, moves family out of state over crime surge — blames Soros-funded state's attorney's 'stupid' policies: 'Rushing into one popular political agenda after another'](https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=33643089&width=1245&height=700&quality=85&coordinates=0%2C54%2C0%2C53)
Illinois Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
A 20-year veteran prosecutor from Chicago announced his resignation on Friday, citing the state's surging crime rates, which he largely blamed on Soros-funded Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.
Felony trial attorney Jason Poje penned a sharp letter torching the attorney's office for backing "stupid" policies and "rushing into one popular political agenda after another."
The resignation letter, which Poje sent to 85 of his colleagues, explained that he would be moving his family out of state because of rampant crime.
Poje opened the letter by stating, "After 20 years, I always kind of figured an email like this would start with 'It is with a heavy heart that I leave…' The truth is, I can't get out of here fast enough."
After noting that he "felt truly honored" to work alongside his colleagues, Poje addressed why he quit.
"The simple fact is that this State and County have set themselves on a course to disaster. And the worst part is that the agency for whom I work has backed literally every policy change that has the predictable, and predicted, outcome of more crime and more people getting hurt," Poje continued.
The prosecutor slammed the county's bond reform, shorter parole periods, and lower sentences for allowing criminals back on the street. In addition, Poje addressed the "malicious and unnecessary prosecution of law enforcement officers" and the "overuse of diversion programs." He contended that the soft-on-crime policies have "consequences that will last for a generation."
Poje added that if he did not have a family, he would stay in Chicago but stated that the area is no longer safe for his 5-year-old son, who "hears gunfire while playing at our neighborhood park" located in a "nice corner of the suburbs."
"I've been through enough stupid State's Attorney policies before. But this Office's complete failure to even think for a moment before rushing into one popular political agenda after another has put my family directly in harm's way," the prosecutor continued.
While he never mentioned Foxx by name, he slammed the "current people in charge of this state, including the SAO," for failing to understand the different roles of defense attorneys and prosecutors.
Poje explained that it is the job of defense attorneys to "fight like hell to protect the rights of criminal defendants" and the role of prosecutors to "fight like hell on behalf of the People."
"When both sides vigorously defend their positions, a balance is reached between protecting rights while preserving some sort of order and safety. Once we start doing too much of the defense's job, once we pull our punches, once we decide it's worth risking citizens' lives to have a little social experiment, that balance is lost," Poje explained.
"The unavoidable consequences are what we are witnessing in real time, an increase in crime of all kinds, businesses and families pulling up the stakes, and the bodies piling up; the whole time with a State's Attorney who insists there is nothing to see here, and if there is, it must be someone else's fault," he added.
Poje accused the administration of making it impossible for prosecutors to do their jobs.
He concluded his scathing letter by declaring that he would be moving his entire family out of Illinois and wished his former colleagues the best in "returning some kind of common sense and security to our communities."
Foxx's office did not respond to a request for comment, Fox News Digital reported.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!