In this special holiday edition of the ISP Podcast, host Director Brendan Kelly is joined by a panel of several officers, special agents, and telecommunicators, sharing stories about their strangest nights on duty, their most embarrassing or funny moments, and other stories ranging from lighthearted to serious. You’ll hear about surprise trucks full of elephants, high-speed emu chases, accidentally falling into sewage ditches while in pursuit of a suspect, and more.

Hear stories of heroic Illinois State Police officers involved in lifesaving incidents. Some were on regular patrol duties or responding to calls, and some just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Guests include ISP Trooper Wes Van Hook, Master Sergeant Mark Flack, Special Agent Er-ic Heberer, Sergeant Cynthia Pfau, and Master Sergeant Ross Green.

Fentanyl poisoning is currently the leading cause of death for Americans age 18-45. In recent years, Fentanyl has accounted for nearly 70% of drug overdose deaths.

Director Brendan Kelly speaks with guests experienced in drug enforcement. You will hear the story of Terry Almanza, a retired Chicago Police Department officer who lost her daugh-ter to drug poisoning and now advocates for enhanced legislation.

Other guests include FBI Special Agent Robert Wieczorek, ISP Master Sergeant Wayne Ladd from Will County CPAT, and Joliet Chief of Police William Evans.

As a young adult, Kelley Marshall had a promising start. After falling on hard times, a man came along who seemed to be an altruistic, caring boyfriend… only revealing he was a hu-man trafficker when it was too late.

Dylan Wecht, a representative for “Truckers Against Trafficking” weighs in as well.

Other guests include an undercover agent tasked with spearheading human trafficking en-forcement and Sara Runyon from The Center for Prevention of Abuse.

East St. Louis has struggled with high crime, few jobs, and a 75% loss of population since the 1950’s. At various times, the city has had the highest per-capita murder rate in the United States.

While the fight continues, ISP’s Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) has made great strides working alongside East St. Louis Police officers, resulting in more solved cases, more convictions, and a decline in the city’s crime rate.

Hear the story of Brittany Williams, who was caught in the crossfire of a shootout while at a gas station with her family, which resulted in her nephew’s death.

As a college undergrad, Kaylyn Ahn was the victim of a sexual assault in 2021 Following her experience, she set out to close a legal loophole in Illinois regarding alcohol and substance consumption that prevented prosecutors from pursuing a case against her aggressor. The bill passed in 2022.

Police departments are retraining officers in handling sexual assault cases, and thousands of previously unaddressed sexual assault cases are now eligible for prosecution.

In 2002, at the age of 13, Alicia “Kozak” Kozakiewicz became the first known victim of an Internet luring and child abduction that received widespread media attention.

In the years since, Alicia has become one of the most influential advocates for improved internet safety for children. She has been featured on a multitude of media outlets, and travels the country speaking to schools and pushing for improved legislation.

Her new book "The Internet Safety Guidebook: Protecting Kids in the Digital Age" was released in February 2025 and is available now.