The Illinois State Police (ISP) celebrated the graduation of eight new Troopers from Cadet Class 153 on Friday at a ceremony held at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield. The newly minted Troopers were set to report to five different ISP Troop locations across the state on Sunday.
Cadet Class 153 was a 14-week lateral entry program, designed specifically for certified police officers who have previously graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy and possess at least two years of full-time experience with other agencies. The intensive training included both physical and classroom instruction, covering subjects such as Cultural Diversity, Procedural Justice, Domestic Violence, Critical Incident Response, De-escalation Tactics, Firearms, First Responder Certification, Control and Arrest Tactics, Illinois Vehicle Code, Criminal Law, Motor Carrier Safety, Juvenile Law, and more.
Upon completion of the academy, each new Trooper will participate in an additional 14 weeks of one-on-one mentoring and field training alongside experienced ISP Field Training Officers in their assigned Troops. This brings the total training period to 28 weeks. Troopers who successfully complete the program will be elevated to solo-patrol status.
New graduates from the Illinois State Police Academy earn approximately $90,000 in compensation. Individuals interested in joining the Illinois State Police are encouraged to visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board website at www.illinoistrooper.com for more information on how to apply.