SPRINGFIELD – To recognize the agency’s 100 years of service, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) supported an initiative declaring April 2022 as Illinois State Police Centennial Month.

“The Illinois State Police have supported, protected and prioritized the communities across the state for a century,” Belt said. “The sacrifices these law enforcement officers have made for generations have not gone unnoticed. We can’t thank them enough.”

Under the Public Works and Buildings Department, the Illinois State Police was created on April 1, 1922. The agency was initially responsible for enforcing road weight laws. At the beginning, there were only eight patrolmen, and their equipment included World War I uniforms, motorcycles and portable scales for weighing trucks.

Now, with leadership from Director Brendan Kelly, ISP operates 21 patrol districts, eight investigative zones, six forensic science laboratories, and five regional crime scene services commands. The agency works to promote public safety, assist local law enforcement departments, decrease roadway crashes and reduce crime across the state.

Senate Resolution 934 was adopted by the Senate Tuesday.