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Illinois State Police Welcomes 8 New Troopers
Cadet Class 153 graduates experienced officers to patrol across the state
Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:55pm
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The graduation of eight new Illinois State Police troopers signals the agency's continued efforts to bolster its ranks and uphold its core values of integrity, service, and pride.Springfield TodayThe Illinois State Police welcomed eight new troopers on Friday at a graduation ceremony in Springfield, marking the 24th cadet class to graduate under Governor JB Pritzker and ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. The new troopers, who were already certified police officers with at least two years of experience, will begin patrol duties across the state on Sunday.
Why it matters
The addition of these eight experienced officers helps bolster the ranks of the Illinois State Police, which has been actively recruiting and training new troopers in recent years to maintain staffing levels and community policing efforts across the state.
The details
Cadet Class 153 was a 14-week lateral entry program, meaning all eight graduates were already certified police officers. The training covered a range of topics including cultural diversity, procedural justice, de-escalation tactics, domestic violence response, firearms, criminal law, and juvenile law. Following the academy, the new troopers must complete an additional 14 weeks of one-on-one field training with ISP Field Training Officers before advancing to solo patrol status.
- The graduation ceremony took place on Friday, April 12, 2026.
- The new troopers will report to their assigned patrol locations across the state on Sunday, April 14, 2026.
The players
JB Pritzker
The Governor of Illinois.
Brendan F. Kelly
The Director of the Illinois State Police.
What they’re saying
“Integrity, service, and pride are the core values of ISP. These new Troopers believe in the mission and see the vision, and I'm proud to welcome each one of them to one of the premier policing agencies in the country.”
— Brendan F. Kelly, Director, Illinois State Police
The takeaway
The graduation of these eight new troopers from Cadet Class 153 demonstrates the Illinois State Police's ongoing commitment to maintaining a well-trained and experienced force to serve communities across the state.
