Illinois State Police

Organization

As of 2006, the Illinois State Police is organized into several divisions:

Traffic enforcement

Illinois State Police currently use various methods for speed limit enforcement on Illinois highways. Hand-held and moving RADAR, LIDAR, pacing, air speed utilizing the ISP fleet of aircraft, and time-distance measurement. The IL State Police uses typical marked units (Crown Victorias, Impalas, and Chargers, Ford Police Interceptor) as well as unmarked units of vehicles ranging from Crown Victorias to Grand Prix GTPs to LS-1 powered Z28s to Mustang GTs. The Mustangs, Camaros, and other vehicles are for a program created to combat aggressive driving and speeding. Lightbars used on marked units are Code 3 X2100 LED units, Federal Signal Legend units and Code 3 MX7000 halogen/strobe units. Prior to that, it was a mixture of the Code 3 MX7000s and Federal Signal JetSonics and Federal Signal Vistas.

Currently, the Illinois State Police uses MPH Industries radar and Kustom Signals LIDAR.

Since 1986, the Illinois State Police has patrolled Chicago Expressways (Districts 3 and 4 which merged to become District Chicago). Illinois also announced in February 2006, that photo radar mounted in vans would be used for speed enforcement in construction zones statewide. Recently, the program has been expanded for speed enforcement throughout the state. Though the vans are manned by State Police troopers, a private company, ACS State and Local Solutions, provides the vans for a fee and receives a bonus of $15 per ticket issued.

A Motorcycle Enforcement Bureau (MEB) was created in 2006 consisting of 41 officers in six squads dispersed throughout the state. 50 Harley-Davidson FLHTPI Electra Glide's were leased for this use by the MEB. Due to cost-cutting measures in mid 2010, the Motorcycle Enforcement Bureau was disbanded, however some motorcycle officers remain in the larger Districts such as Chicago and East St. Louis.

As of late 2007, all ISP districts have moved their radio operations to the new STARCOM 21 (700/800Mhz Motorola Project 25) trunked radio system.

Illinois State Police Merit Board

The Illinois State Police Merit Board administers the certification of the appointment and promotion of state police officers as well as their discipline, removal, demotion and suspension. The merit board consists of five civilian members who are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. Each member serves for a term of six years and no more than three members may be affiliated with the same political party.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Illinois State Police, 61 troopers have been killed in the line of duty, with a partial list that follows.

Uniform

The uniform of the Illinois State Police has certain qualities that separate it from its neighbors. Instead of a chocolate brown uniform (similar to the Iowa State Patrol), or a light blue on dark blue (similar to the Missouri State Highway Patrol), they wear light tan/khaki shirts, and dark green pants with black trim. Dress uniforms include a jacket that matches the pants. The cold weather gear incorporates a chocolate brown all weather jacket. Leather duty gear consists of black high gloss clarino holsters, belts and accessories. The hat that is worn by the state police is a dark brown campaign hat. The badge, instead of the traditional shield surmounted by an eagle design, is a six-pointed star that reads the rank of the trooper, and the words "Illinois State Police" in black, along with (beginning in 2002) the officer's badge number. (The badge's sequential inventory number is found stamped on the reverse side of the badge.) The badges are silver, or chrome plated steel for all ranks below Sergeant, and for Sergeant and above, the star is gold plated. Over recent time there have been uniform variations such as brown wooly-pully style sweaters for cold weather, brown leather bomber style jackets, variations for truck enforcement officers, etc.

ISP awards, commendations, citations and medals

Duty weapons

The Illinois State Police was the first major law enforcement agency to carry a semi-automatic pistol, starting in 1968 with the Smith & Wesson Model 39, which it carried until 1981, transitioning then to the 2nd generation Smith & Wesson Model 439. The Model 439 was in service until 1988 when the ISP transitioned to the Smith & Wesson Model 459 for uniform use and the Smith & Wesson Model 469 for investigations and senior command officers. In 1993 ISP went to the 3rd generation Smith & Wesson Model 5904 for uniform use and the Smith & Wesson Model 6904 for investigations and senior command officers. During the ISP's long tenure with the 9mm cartridge, a special high velocity load designated "The Illinois State Police Load" was created at the request of the ISP. The load was a 115 grain round at +P+ velocities. The round earned a great reputation as a "street stopper" in the 9mm cartridge and was adopted by many agencies. The ISP carried this load until the transition to the .40 S&W round in 1999. In 1999 ISP transitioned to the .40 S&W caliber with the Glock 22 for uniform use and the Glock 23 for investigations and senior command officers. For patrol carbines, troopers are issued ArmaLite AR-15 rifles. Remington 870 12-gauge shotguns are issued as well. Less lethal options issued to troopers include OC pepper spray, Tasers and the expandable straight baton.

Aircraft

The Illinois State Police have six aircraft used for law enforcement throughout the state, one Cessna 421C and five Cessna 182. These aircraft are stationed at four airports, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, DuPage Airport, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and Whiteside County Airport. ISP has used aircraft for speed enforcement, using stop watch time measurement, since 1959. According to the FAA, aircraft registered to ISP include, a Cessna 182R N291SP, a Cessna 182S N551SP, a Cessna 182S N661SP, a Cessna 182S N771SP, a Cessna 182S N881SP, a Cessna 421C N4131Q and a 1953 Bell H13G N33615.