Rockford Sun

Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) recently marked the centennial of the Illinois State Police.

“This week, in a rare display of bipartisanship, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Illinois State Police at the State Capitol in Springfield with a visit from a group of state troopers who were on hand for the passage of House Resolution 752 on March 29, recognizing the rich history and contributions of the State Police on their centennial celebration,” Chesney wrote on his website. “Democrat and Republican leaders jointly sponsored the resolution and took time to personally thank the visiting state troopers. Unfortunately, Governor (J.B.) Pritzker and his allies in the state legislature have failed to back up their platitudes with support for police when our men and women in law enforcement needed it the most.”

The Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability reported that the state gave the Department of State Police $731.9 million during the 2021 fiscal year.

“Illinois can only thrive when its people are safe, and it’s our (ISP) who make it possible for working families to safely live their lives, on the road and in their neighborhoods,” Pritzker said in a release from the ISP. “I’m proud to have funded the growth of ISP every year since I took office. These are the investments that set the foundation for ISP’s next century, ensuring that Illinois will continue to lead in supporting public safety.”

Chesney also wrote about House Resolution 963, which was introduced on Jan. 11, 2021. The bill was meant to show that the sponsors of the bill — all 44 Republicans in the chamber — were “committed to effective and thoughtful changes to the criminal justice system and policing in a bipartisan transparent manner with all stakeholders represented, and this approach on issues of this importance will serve the State of Illinois.”

The Illinois State Capitol will fly the ISP’s flag during the month of April.

The agency’s website said the ISP began with eight highway patrol officers and director John Stack. By the agency's 50th anniversary, it had grown to 1,709 sworn officers and 602 civilian employees. In 2022, the Illinois State Police is comprised of 1836 sworn officers and 1084 civilian employees.