SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police welcomed 21 new troopers from Cadet Class 151 during a graduation ceremony held at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield.
The new troopers will report to seven Illinois State Police troop locations across the state on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. Cadet Class 151 represents the 23rd cadet class to graduate under Governor JB Pritzker and ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. Since 2019, a total of 713 troopers have joined the Illinois State Police.
“I am proud to congratulate each member of Cadet Class 151 on their graduation, and I commend their enduring commitment to the people of our great state,” Governor JB Pritzker said. “This class embodies the core principles of the Illinois State Police, and they will serve and protect Illinois with integrity and pride.”
“Becoming a police officer is a decision these individuals made years ago, dedicating themselves to serving and protecting their communities,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “However, it was by walking through the Illinois State Police Academy doors 11 weeks ago that they began the next step of their journey, joining one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the country, and I am proud to call them troopers with the Illinois State Police.”
Cadet Class 151 was a lateral entry academy class made up of 21 certified police officers who previously graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy and had at least two years of experience as full-time officers. The cadets completed an 11-week Illinois State Police training program that included both physical and classroom instruction.
Training topics covered cultural diversity, procedural justice, domestic violence, critical incident response, de-escalation tactics, firearms, first responder certification, control and arrest tactics, the Illinois Vehicle Code, criminal law, motor carrier safety, juvenile law, and additional areas of instruction.
Beyond academy training, the new troopers must complete a 14-week field training program that includes one-on-one mentoring with Field Training Officers in their assigned troop. This brings their total training period to 25 weeks. Troopers who successfully complete field training advance to solo-patrol status.
The new troopers have been assigned to the following locations and will begin patrol duties immediately:
Troop 2 LaSalle/Moline: 2 troopers
Troop 3 Chicago: 4 troopers
Troop 4 Macomb/Metamora: 3 troopers
Troop 5 Pontiac/Ashkum: 2 troopers
Troop 7 Pesotum: 2 troopers
Troop 8 Collinsville: 5 troopers
Troop 10 DuQuoin/Ullin: 3 troopers
Upon graduating from the Illinois State Police Academy, new troopers earn approximately $90,000 in compensation. Anyone interested in joining the Illinois State Police is encouraged to visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board website at www.illinoistrooper.com for application details.
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