37 Troopers Join the Ranks of the Illinois State Police

Springfield – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Leo P. Schmitz today commissioned 37 troopers during the Cadet Class 125 graduation ceremony at the ISP Academy.  The new troopers will report to ISP patrol districts throughout the state on Monday, March 16, 2015.  Director Schmitz and the ISP command staff welcomed the new troopers after delivering the Oath of an Officer before family and friends.

"Today, these new officers join fellow troopers in the long and proud tradition of the Illinois State Police," said Director Schmitz.  "Next week, these new troopers will report to their respective districts in order to reinforce our commitment to making Illinois a safer place for everyone," added Schmitz.

ISP Cadet Class 125 is the fourth class to graduate under the new legislation that allows veterans who have been awarded an Afghan or Iraqi campaign medal by the military or naval services of the United States to apply without having earned a college degree and have been honorably discharged.  Nine of the new troopers are veterans, and of those, four were hired under the new legislation.

Members of Cadet Class 125 underscored their commitment to becoming part of “Illinois Finest” by fundraising over $16,000 for the Memorial Park to honor the sacrifice of fallen troopers.  When completed, the ISP Memorial Park will serve as a place to honor and remember the brave men and women who have lost their lives while protecting the citizens of our state.  A check totaling $16,154 was presented to the ISP Memorial Park during the class banquet.

The troopers have completed a demanding 26-week regimen of physical and classroom instruction which included training in Terrorism Awareness, Domestic Violence, Critical Incident Response, Firearms Training, First Responder Certification, Illinois Vehicle Code, Criminal Law, Motor Carrier Safety, Juvenile Law, and more.

In addition to the 26-week academy training, probationary troopers are required to participate in one-on-one mentoring with Field Training Officers (FTOs) under a 14-week field training program, expanding their training to 40 weeks.  Probationary troopers who successfully complete FTO training are advanced to solo-patrol status. 

The new officers have been assigned to the following areas of the state and will immediately begin their patrol duties, joining veteran troopers in the effort to safeguard Illinois roadways:

District 1 Sterling, 5 troopers

District 2 Elgin, 2 troopers

District 5 Joliet, 1 trooper

District 6 Pontiac, 3 troopers

District 7 East Moline, 2 troopers

District 8 Metamora, 3 troopers

District 10 Pesotum, 6 troopers

District 11 Collinsville, 2 troopers

District 14 Macomb, 2 troopers

District 15 Downers Grove, 1 trooper

District 16 Pecatonica, 2 troopers

District 17 LaSalle, 5 troopers

District 21 Kankakee, 3 troopers

The ISP Academy is one of the most respected and recognized training facilities in the country.  Dozens of law enforcement agencies also use the ISP Academy curriculum to meet standards set forth by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

Anyone interested in joining the ranks of the Illinois State Police is encouraged to visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board website at www.illinoistrooper.com for application information.

A video link of the CC125 Graduation is available for download at:

http://www2.illinois.gov/cms/agency/media/video/Pages/Videos.aspx