SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is celebrating its 40th anniversary of certification by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA is an internationally recognized gold standard in public safety excellence.
On June 15, 1986, ISP became the first state police agency in the United States to achieve CALEA accreditation, highlighting ISP’s vision of being one of the nation’s premier policing agencies.
“ISP’s vision, mission, and values are the foundation of everything we do, from the way we interact with the public, pursue justice through thoughtful investigations, ensure highway safety, and work to develop our Troopers and Special agents into the best officers and community caretakers possible,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Forty years is an amazing feat. I have no doubt we will continue down this path of excellence and remain one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the country.”
To become accredited, law enforcement agencies must complete a comprehensive two to three year self-assessment, including the review and revision of polices, directives, and training standards. Agencies must also pass a CALEA site-based compliance check and attend a review committee hearing. Reaccreditation requires on-going quality performance reviews and maintenance of agency information and statistical data.
Transparency and accountability are two areas of focus for CALEA accreditation. In accordance with ISP’s commitment to these values, ISP shares its departmental policies, Officer Involved Investigations Dashboard, and Expressway Shooting Dashboard, publicly on its website. ISP has also simplified its civilian complaint process, allowing citizens to report their grievances against ISP officers, as well as elected officials, through Quick Links on the ISP website. ISP’s continued efforts in these areas not only have improved community trust and engagement, but have improved the work environment for the men and women of ISP. In excess of the CALEA requirements and long before they became a CALEA category, ISP expanded its wellness and mental health services for its employees, including a full-time Peer Support team and an Employee Assistance Program. ISP also extended paid paternity leave for Troopers to 12 weeks.
In 2024, ISP increased its starting compensation package for new Troopers to approximately $90,000 to help ensure quality cadets. ISP offers college credit to Academy graduates at seven Illinois universities to support continued education. ISP has also increased recruiting efforts for prior military members looking enter policing, and current certified police officers from outside agencies seeking an opportunity to join ISP. Qualified candidates are encouraged to visit www.IllinoisTrooper.com for more information.