NIU police

Thursday is the first day of several days of testimony in the case against a former Northern Illinois University police officer who was accused of sexual assault.

Court officials anticipate the trial of Andrew Rifkin taking about a week and including about ten witnesses. That includes the alleged victim’s former roommate, a digital forensics expert, and NIU health services personnel, according to court documents.

The Northern Illinois University police department will host its first-ever Safety Awareness Day next week.

NIU officer Weyni Langdon says the fair’s purpose is for new members of the community – like college freshmen who haven’t been away from home before – to familiarize themselves with police departments in the surrounding area and get necessary safety resource information all in one place.

“At the beginning of the year, we have a lot of questions about which agency is which – you know, ‘Are you NIU police? Are you DeKalb police? Are you county?’” Langdon said.

A former Northern Illinois University police officer accused of sexual assault will ask the victim to testify in the case.

The wrangling over a final concealed carry bill in Springfield is adding to the uncertainty at the local level. Officials continue to wait and see how a final bill would affect them.