Valentine Ruben Galindo - First Latino to become a Trooper in the history of the Illinois State Police.

Valentine Ruben Galindo was born near Quincy Illinois in 1934. Galindo attended Dixon High School and went on to serve in the United States Marine Corp from 1952-1956 before joining the Illinois State Police on June 15, 1958. After graduation, Galindo was assigned to District 4 in Crestwood (now part of District Chicago).

Galindo would go on to serve for 28 years with the Illinois State Police; achieving the rank of Corporal in 1977, Master Sergeant in 1979, and a temporary assignment as Investigative Zone Commander (Captain) from 1982 until his retirement. Galindo spent much of his career assigned to investigations, solving major crimes including homicides, including the murder of a newspaper boy from Rockford named Joseph Didier in 1975. Galindo graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy Session 134 in September 1983. Galindo retired from the Illinois State Police in May 1986.

Galindo’s son, Mark Galindo, carried on his father’s legacy by joining the Illinois State Police in 1990 and retired as a Master Sergeant in 2014. Mark recalls the impact his father had by being a mentor to many by sharing his investigative success with others. Mark also recalls the hardships Valentine shared due to his Mexican heritage.