[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 43 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE

  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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