The official account of the Illinois State Police. This account is NOT monitored 24/7. DO NOT use X to report a crime. For emergencies, please dial 911.

Springfield, IL
Joined June 2010
๐Ÿ”’ ๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐ˆ๐๐…๐Ž๐‘๐Œ๐€๐“๐ˆ๐Ž๐ ๐ˆ๐’ ๐•๐€๐‹๐”๐€๐๐‹๐„ Your personal information can be valuable to criminals. Think twice before sharing or posting: โ€ข Social Security numbers โ€ข Driver's license information โ€ข Financial account information โ€ข Home addresses โ€ข Personal phone numbers โ€ข Birth dates โ€ข Passwords โ€ข Photos containing sensitive information Criminals can use pieces of information from different sources to build a profile of you. Protect your personal information the same way you protect your home, vehicle, and valuables. ๐“๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐›๐ž๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ก๐š๐ซ๐ž.
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We remember Trooper Joseph Elliott. Trooper Elliott was killed in an automobile accident while he and another officer returned to the district headquarters in Peoria, Illinois. The officers were attempting to pass another car when the patrol car went out of control on the wet road surface. Trooper Elliott was pinned underneath the car and succumbed to his injuries several hours later. Trooper Elliott had served with the Illinois State Police for seven months and was assigned to District 8. Trooper Elliott was survived by his wife. End of Watch, October 20, 1933 #NeverForget
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During School Bus Safety Week, remember: If a school bus has flashing red lights, you must stop on: ๐Ÿ›‘ Two-lane roads ๐Ÿ›‘ One-way roads ๐Ÿ›‘ Only traffic going the same direction stops on four-lane roads. ๐Ÿ›‘Penalties start at $300 and a 3-month suspension. Stop for kids. Save lives. โค๏ธ
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October is Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month. Sleep suffocation is the leading cause of reported child deaths in Illinois โ€” and many are preventable. Remember the ABCs of safe sleep: ๐€๐‹๐Ž๐๐„. ๐๐€๐‚๐Š. ๐‚๐‘๐ˆ๐. Every nap, every night. Keep cribs free of blankets, pillows, and toys. Adult beds, couches, swings, and car seats are not safe for sleep. More tips: dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?itโ€ฆ Together, we can help keep Illinois babies safe. ๐Ÿ’™
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๐’๐ญ๐ž๐ฉ ๐ˆ๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐š ๐‚๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ž๐ซ ๐“๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ง๐ ๐ž๐ฌ ๐‹๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ โ€œWhen I was in my early twenties, I was going to college and working evenings at a gas station. Even then, I felt a calling to do something moreโ€”something that mattered, something that helped people in moments when they needed it most. One evening, an officer stopped for gas and suggested I apply to the local police department as a 911 Telecommunicator. That small moment of encouragement changed the course of my life. I soon applied to both the local police department and the sheriffโ€™s department for a 911 Telecommunicator/Matron position. After interviewing with both agencies, I felt a growing excitement about the possibility of joining law enforcement and serving the community that raised me. I accepted a position with the sheriffโ€™s department and stepped into the role of a 911 Telecommunicator at a time when the entire system was still new to our small community. It was a period of transformationโ€”computers were just being introduced, pen and paper systems were fading, and communities were transitioning to standardized 911 addresses. Change was constant, and I loved being part of something that was evolving to better protect and serve people. As technology grew, so did my desire to learn more, to do more, and to challenge myself. That drive led me to apply for a Telecommunicator position with the Illinois State Police. I began my ISP career in January 2000, and from the very start, I knew I had found my purpose. Through intensive training, strong mentorship, and continued professional development, I became a certified Telecommunicator and discovered just how impactful this career could be. At ISP, technology quickly advanced Computer Aided Dispatch, statewide land mobile radio systems, touch screen operations, and more. The responsibilities grew as well. Being an ISP Telecommunicator means managing multiple emergencies at once, tracking officer locations, coordinating with countless partners, and answering both emergency and non emergency calls from the public. It is demanding work, but it is deeply meaningful. It is a career built on courage, compassion, and the unwavering commitment to help others, even on their hardest days. Not everyone is called to this type of work, but for those who are, it becomes more than a job. It becomes a purpose, a passion, and a second family. This career also offers meaningful pathways for advancement; something reflected in my own journey. Over the years, dedication, continued learning, and a commitment to service led me to where I am today as the Deputy Director of the Division of Statewide 9 1 1. It is a reminder that the opportunities within this field are wide ranging for those who choose to pursue them. If you have drive, strong multitasking abilities, and the desire to work in a career that brings growth, accomplishment, and community, I encourage you to explore the Illinois State Police Telecommunicator positions listed below and apply today. You will never regret the opportunities you seize, only the ones you walk away from.โ€ - Cher Clodfelter, Division of Statewide 911 Deputy Director Join the ISP team as a Telecommunicator and step into a career that will challenge you, shape you, and reward you in ways you never expected. It will push your limits, strengthen your skills, and bring moments of emotion, pride, and fulfillment that stay with you forever. Most of all, it will give you the honor of saying, โ€œI am an Illinois State Police Telecommunicator, and I am here to help you.โ€ Apply here: bit.ly/4BcDVUJ
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Please move over... For first responders, for tow trucks, for construction workers, for everyone. Move over for ๐„๐•๐„๐‘๐˜๐Ž๐๐„ โ€“ All vehicles, no matter what, every time. Move over and slow down. It's not only the law, but it could also save a life.
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Stay focused behind the wheel. Distractions can wait. Your safety matters more than any call, snack, or text. #Buckleup #DontDrinkandDrive #DropItAndDrive #SlowDown #MoveOver
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On June 2, 2026, Trooper Seth Gooch responded to a call for a possible suicidal subject on the Jefferson Barracks Bridge (I 255) over the Mississippi River in the south metro St. Louis area. As he arrived, he witnessed the subject, Miss Patti, jump before he could intervene. Trooper Gooch immediately scanned the waters below and eventually located her drifting in the riverโ€™s strong current, more than two miles from the point where she entered the water. He radioed for assistance and drove downstream until he found individuals with a boat, who helped him locate Miss Patti. She was pulled from the water and taken to the hospital for treatment. In the days that followed, Trooper Gooch visited Miss Patti to check on her progress and encourage her that her life is worth living. Miss Patti asked us to share her story. She is grateful to be alive and continues to recover from the effects of that day. She also sent a photo and message for us to post. This week, Troop 8 received a special visit from Miss Patti as she personally thanked Trooper Gooch for helping save her life. We are grateful to see her smiling and proud of Trooper Gooch and all who responded for their dedication to protecting the safety and well-being of everyone in our communities. A coordinated multi-agency effort supported this life-saving response, including: ๐ŸšจIllinois Department of Transportation Emergency Patrol Vehicle ๐ŸšจTwo Good Samaritans who attempted to stop her from jumping ๐ŸšจRiver Diving and Salvage, who assisted Trooper Gooch on the river ๐ŸšจColumbia Police Department, who deployed a drone ๐ŸšจColumbia Fire Department rescue boat ๐ŸšจMonroe County Sheriffโ€™s Office ๐ŸšจMehlville Fire/EMS If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7. Please call or text 988 for support. #ThankATrooper
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๐ˆ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ข๐ฌ ๐’๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐œ๐ž ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ˆ๐ง๐Ÿ๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐’๐š๐Ÿ๐ž ๐’๐ฅ๐ž๐ž๐ฉ ๐€๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐Œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐’๐๐‘๐ˆ๐๐†๐…๐ˆ๐„๐‹๐ƒ โ€“ As one of the lead investigators of child deaths, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is recognizing October as Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month. Tragically, sleep suffocation is the leading cause of reported child deaths in Illinois and hundreds of infants die each year because they are placed in unsafe sleeping environments. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) affects families of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Read full news release: prez.ly/Uane
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Our field recruiters are scheduled to be at these upcoming events! We hope to see you there! Here are some highlights for events in the second half of October 2026! Major Hector Garcia High School Career Fair, Chicago, IL - 10-16-26 Lincolnโ€™s Challenge Academy Class 67 Career Fair, Rantoul, IL โ€“ 10-16-26 Illini Central High School, Mason City, IL โ€“ 10-16-26 Wolf Branch School District Fall Festival, Swansea, IL โ€“ 10-16-26 Girls Gone Rx Illinois, Byron, IL โ€“ 10-17-26 Army National Guard Career Fair, Crestwood, IL โ€“ 10-18-26 Teen and Adult Job Fair, Galesburg, IL โ€“ 10-20-26 Monmouth College Career Expo, Monmouth, IL โ€“ 10-20-26 IDPH โ€“ Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL โ€“ 10-22-26 IDES โ€“ State Hiring Presentation, Springfield, IL โ€“ 10-26-26 Joliet Central Career Fair, Joliet, IL โ€“ 10-28-26 IDES Recruitment Event at Reddick Library, Ottawa, IL โ€“ 10-29-26 Crossing Church Trunk or Treat, Macomb, IL โ€“ 10-29-26 School-wide Trick or Treat Parade, East St. Louis, IL โ€“ 10-29-26 Hamilton High School, Hamilton, IL โ€“ 10-30-26 Trunk or Treat (Faith in Blue), Sauget, IL โ€“ 10-30-26 Fairfield Community High School College and Career Fair, Fairfield, IL โ€“ 10-30-26 New Life Community Church Harvest Fest, East St. Louis, IL โ€“ 10-31-26 For more information about hiring visit IllinoisTrooper.com. Contact a Recruiter at [email protected]. Please Note: Events at schools, colleges, universities, and military bases are only open to those affiliated with the respective institution.
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We remember Trooper Ray Embree. Trooper Embree was killed in an automobile accident while returning to the district headquarters in Springfield. He and a Secretary of State employee were returning from Chicago after delivering documents for the Governor. For unknown reasons Trooper Embree's automobile swerved into the path of an oncoming tractor trailer on Route 66, near Towanda. Trooper Embree was transported to Normal Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His passenger did not receive any injuries. Trooper Embree served with the Illinois State Police for ten months and was assigned to District 9. Trooper Embree was survived by his wife and child. End of Watch, October 15, 1936 #NeverForget
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#HappeningAtISP: ๐Ÿค– Director Kelly Addressed Legislators During House Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & It Committee Hearing ๐Ÿš‘ We Held Full-Scale, Multi-Agency Preparedness Exercise to Improve Response During an Emergency ๐Ÿš“ Experienced 11th and 12th Move Over Law-Related Crashes Of 2026 ๐Ÿšจ Made Arrests and Seized Drugs Statewide and more.
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๐ˆ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ข๐ฌ ๐’๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐œ๐ž ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐›๐š๐ญ๐ฌ ๐•๐ž๐ก๐ข๐œ๐ฅ๐ž ๐‡๐ข๐ฃ๐š๐œ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š๐ง๐ ๐“๐ก๐ž๐Ÿ๐ญ ๐’๐๐‘๐ˆ๐๐†๐…๐ˆ๐„๐‹๐ƒ โ€“ The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to target vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. โ€‹ ISP was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, another $677,000 in June 2024, and $637,500 in July 2025. Read full news release: prez.ly/EZle
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๐“๐ฐ๐จ ๐ˆ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ข๐ฌ ๐’๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐œ๐ž ๐’๐ช๐ฎ๐š๐ ๐‚๐š๐ซ๐ฌ ๐’๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐œ๐ค ๐Ž๐ง ๐ˆ๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ˆ๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐Ÿ•๐ŸŽ ๐˜๐˜š๐˜— ๐˜Œ๐˜น๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ด 11๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ 12๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜–๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜“๐˜ข๐˜ธ-๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜Š๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง 2026 SPRINGFIELD โ€“ The Illinois State Police (ISP) experienced two Move Over Law-related crashes during the past three days on Illinois interstates. โ€‹โ€‹ โ€‹On October 8, 2026, at approximately 11:49 p.m., an ISP Trooper was stationary in a construction zone on Interstate 55 northbound near milepost 106.5, with emergency lights activated. A black Mazda traveling northbound on I-55 struck the ISP squad car. The Trooper was inside of the squad car at the time of the crash and was transported to the hospital by another Trooper as a precaution. The driver of the Mazda, 43-year-old Tiffany Sipes of Williamsville, IL, was issued citations for Scottโ€™s Law and Driving Under the Influence. โ€‹On October 9, 2026, at approximately 5:02 p.m., an ISP Trooper was stationary on Interstate 70 westbound near milepost 85.5, with emergency lights activated and working an active crash scene. A black Land Rover traveling westbound on I-70 sideswiped the Trooperโ€™s squad car and struck another vehicle in the backed-up traffic. The Trooper was outside the squad car and no injuries were reported. The driver of the Land Rover, Amanda S. Thomas, 45, of Logan, IL, was issued citations for Scottโ€™s Law, Improper Lane Usage, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Driving Under the Influence, and multiple other traffic offenses. Read full news release: prez.ly/oyie
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๐Ÿ” ๐๐‘๐Ž๐“๐„๐‚๐“ ๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐€๐‚๐‚๐Ž๐”๐๐“๐’ Your username and password can provide access to some of your most valuable information. Protect yourself: โ€ข Use strong, unique passwords. โ€ข Don't reuse passwords across important accounts. โ€ข Never share your password. โ€ข Use multifactor authentication whenever it's available. โ€ข Consider using a password manager. And remember: ๐€ ๐ฅ๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐ก๐ž๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐ค ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ž๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐œ๐ž ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ž๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ง๐ž๐ž๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ฆ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ž๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. Protect your information before someone else tries to take it.
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is a crime. Anyone who hits, chokes, kicks, threatens, harasses, or interferes with the personal liberty of a family or household member is violating Illinois law. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at 1โ€‘877โ€‘863โ€‘6338. For more information on domestic violence prevention and intervention, visit the Illinois Department of Human Services website: dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?itโ€ฆ
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Today is ๐ŸŒŽ World Mental Health Day, a reminder that taking care of our minds matters every single day. ๐Ÿ’š If you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, reaching out can make all the difference. You never have to face things alone. And donโ€™t forget to check in on the people around you. A simple message or conversation can show someone theyโ€™re cared for. โค๏ธ #ILStatePolice #WorldMentalHealthDay
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Deer activity increases during the fall, especially around ๐๐š๐ฐ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ค. Please stay alert and reduce your speed in areas where deer may be present. If your vehicle hits a deer, you can contact police or file your own crash report online using ISPโ€™s Civilian Crash Reporting System. The crash must be a ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐žโ€‘๐ฏ๐ž๐ก๐ข๐œ๐ฅ๐ž, ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒโ€‘๐๐š๐ฆ๐š๐ ๐žโ€‘๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ incident with no injuries, occurring on an Interstate, U.S., or Illinois Route. Visit the ISP website and select Crash Reports under Quick Links to complete your report online. #watchfordeer
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๐ˆ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ข๐ฌ ๐’๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐œ๐ž ๐‡๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐…๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐’๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ž ๐๐ซ๐ž๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐๐ง๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐„๐ฑ๐ž๐ซ๐œ๐ข๐ฌ๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐ˆ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž ๐‘๐ž๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ž ๐ƒ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š๐ง ๐„๐ฆ๐ž๐ซ๐ ๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ฒ ๐’๐๐‘๐ˆ๐๐†๐…๐ˆ๐„๐‹๐ƒ โ€“ To help protect and serve communities during emergency events, the Illinois State Police (ISP) held a full-scale preparedness training exercise at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield on October 7, 2026. The ISP Special Operations Command Statewide Weapons of Mass Destruction (SWMD) Team led the exercise, which focused on improving collaboration between multiple municipal and state agencies. Read full news release: prez.ly/Osie
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โ€œThe only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothingโ€ โ€“ Edmund Burke Trooper Gabriel Walker served in the Army at Fort Carson, CO (4th Infantry Division) as a Cavalry Scout for 4.5 years. He was with 1-38 Infantry and later 2-1 Cavalry as a Sergeant. He stated he grew up in the early days of the Global War on Terror and was always inspired by the military members serving in that time. On September 11, 2021, he was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, where he was sent to Iraq and Syria for 9 months. After the Army, he was a Correctional Officer for the Effingham County Sheriffโ€™s Office. He set his sights on the Illinois State Police partly due to several family members being Troopers, but also because of their professional demeanor and the strong para-military ties it has. Trooper Walker now serves with the Illinois State Police in Troop 9. He stated he particularly enjoys Troop 9 as he gets to patrol not only where he grew up, but also all the communities around it. Trooper Walker has been with the department for about 2.5 years. He is an EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) instructor, South Region Crowd Control Team Member, and a Field Recruiter. Trooper Walker shared โ€œWhenever I get the chance, I always try to reach out to members of the military and ask them what their plans are upon leaving the service. I get many different answers, but a common theme of veterans post-service is not having a purpose, especially veterans whose Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was in a combat-related field. I can tell you that as a Trooper, you will always have a feeling of purpose. Any day on patrol could bring forth a unique challenge. On any given day, it could be you locating a missing/endangered person, a stolen vehicle, or taking an impaired driver off the roadway. I encourage all veterans who again want to utilize the skills and experiences theyโ€™ve gathered in the military to look into the Illinois State Police for a career.โ€ ISP Outreach: Expanding the Badge
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