100th Anniversary of the Illinois State Police

Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, on April 1, 2022, the Illinois State Police--ISP--will mark 100 years since its founding. Its work and dedication to making a safer Illinois is one of pride and integrity. I want to take a moment to reflect on the ISP's century of service.

A little more than a century ago, Illinoisans no longer wanted to be stuck in the mud. The year was 1921. The Department of Public Works and Buildings reported nearly 1,100 miles of paved road in service, and that number was growing. But the State was still filled with dirt roads, and Illinois voters approved a new road system. The Age of the Automobile led the State of Illinois to undertake one of the largest building programs in the country. It also meant these roads and drivers needed to be protected.

On April 1, 1922, the 52nd General Assembly approved the creation of the Illinois Highway Maintenance Police to do just that. Today, they are known as the Illinois State Police. The name has changed. The mission has expanded. But the dedication of the ISP has not.

The ISP started out with just eight officers. Equipped with mismatched and self-constructed World War I surplus uniforms and motorcycles, they set out to enforce the weight laws of the State and protect the growing highway system. The first headquarters was at the residence of John J. Stack, the ISP's first director. The building also was its first mechanic garage.

From these modest beginnings, the ISP would grow and evolve every year. A year after its founding, the ISP increased to 100 officers. By the end of the decade, it grew to 300. The ISP moved under different departments and continued to take on new responsibilities and add to its roster. And by the 1950s, more than 1,000 members were authorized to conduct a variety of law enforcement activities, confronting a rising tide of crime and controlled substance abuse. The ISP's duties and size continued to advance through several reorganizations.

The ISP has become a nationally renowned law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice agency. Its responsibilities have only grown with the challenges of times. Today, there are more than 1,800 sworn officers and more than 1,000 civilian employees. They protect people on more than 2,100 interstate miles, nearly 16,000 miles of State highways, and nearly 8,000 bridges.

These dedicated officers no longer focus on just the hard roads. From aircraft support to helping with high-profile investigations, the ISP is on the frontlines of law enforcement. In addition, it provides oversight of the 9-1-1 systems and support for the statewide 9-1-1 advisory board. The ISP also is an important part of fighting the opioid crisis.

Through all of this, the ISP has kept its focus on the mission of promoting public safety and justice for every Illinois citizen. Its officers and employees do this every day and with great sacrifice. Dozens have given their lives for their fellow citizens. Thousands of ISP recruits and cadets pursuing law enforcement careers throughout Illinois have followed in their honorable footsteps at the Illinois State Police Academy.

I want to congratulate the ISP on an incredible century of integrity, service, and pride, and I thank the brave men and women of the ISP for their unwavering service to Illinois. The second century of the ISP has unlimited potential.

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