Grant & Parker

Grant & Parker

When Patricia Good Cross won a federal lawsuit against the Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Illinois State Police Merit Board for being denied the right to fill out an employment application, it opened the doors to women and increased the number of minorities hired by the ISP.

As a result, Cadet Class 53 was the first class to accept women as Cadets and to train with males Cadets. The class, which started in March 1975, graduated 21 White males, 12 African American males, 2 Latino males, 1 White woman, and 2 African American women. The two African American women, Sheila Parker (pictured right), whose last name was Helms when she checked into the ISP Academy, and Pamela Grant, became the first African American women to graduate from the ISP Academy. Grant and Parker were both mothers when they arrived at the ISP Academy. Upon graduation, they were assigned together at District 3, which is now part of District Chicago.

Trooper Grant would go on to work Patrol, Division of Internal Investigation, and eventually Investigations. Trooper Grant retired as a Special Agent in December 1984. Trooper Parker went on to become the first African American woman to attain the rank of Lieutenant in the ISP.


Trooper Pamela Grant

Grant & Parker