title
REPORT
Department: Department of Law Enforcement
Request: Receive and File
Report Title: Utilization of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives eTrace System
Report Period: N/A
Summary: On May 6, 2025, the Forest Preserves of Cook County Department of Law Enforcement presented to the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for the purpose of utilizing its eTrace platform for submitting, retrieving, storing and querying firearms trace related information (Board Item No. 25-0189). There was no cost associated with the MOU and it would remain in effect until terminated. The board item was referred to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
On May 31, 2025, Illinois House Bill (HB) 1373, requiring the use of the eTrace platform by all law enforcement agencies in Illinois, was passed by the Illinois Legislature. On July 28, 2025, the bill was approved by Governor Pritzker and became effective as Public Act 104-0030. Also, on July 28, 2025, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office confirmed that all local law enforcement agencies in Illinois are required to participate in the eTrace platform.
This report is to inform the Board of Commissioners that the Forest Preserves will comply with the new law by executing the MOU. Information acquired through the firearm tracing process can be utilized to solve individual cases, to maximize the investigative information available for use in identifying potential illegal firearms traffickers, and to supplement the analysis of crime trends and trafficking patterns.
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