SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) welcomed eight new Troopers today from Cadet Class 153 at a graduation ceremony at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield. The new Troopers will report to five ISP Troop locations throughout the state on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Cadet Class 153 marks the 24th cadet class graduation under Governor JB Pritzker and ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. Since 2019, 721 troopers have joined ISP.
“I am proud to congratulate Cadet Class 153 on their graduation. I applaud their valor, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the People of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Since taking office, I’ve prioritized growing our state’s police force to improve safety and security in communities across Illinois, and these brave new Troopers represent that critical effort.”
“Integrity, service, and pride are the core values of ISP,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “These ideals are not empty words, but the foundation for everything ISP does. 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, the Illinois State Police.”
Cadet Class 153 was a 14-week lateral entry academy class. The eight new Troopers were certified police officers who previously graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy and had at least two years of experience as full-time officers with other law enforcement agencies. The program consists of physical and classroom instruction, which includes training in 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.
In addition to the 14-week academy training, these Troopers are required to participate in an additional 14-weeks of one-on-one mentoring and field training with ISP Field Training Officers in their assigned Troops, expanding their total training to 28 weeks. Troopers who successfully complete the field training program advance to solo-patrol status.
The new Troopers are assigned to the following areas of the state and will immediately begin their patrol duties:
- Troop 3 Chicago, 3 Troopers
- Troop 4 Macomb/Metamora, 1 Trooper
- Troop 5 Pontiac/Ashkum, 2 Troopers
- Troop 8 Collinsville, 1 Trooper
- Troop 10 Du Quoin/Ullin, 1 Trooper
New Troopers earn approximately $90,000 in compensation upon graduation from the Illinois State Police Academy. Anyone interested in joining the ranks of Illinois State Police is encouraged to visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board website at www.illinoistrooper.com for application information.
