DeKalb Times

In an April 1 Facebook post, Rep. John M. Cabello celebrated Illinois State Trooper Day.

“Thank you to the Illinois State Police for 101 years of “Integrity, Service, Pride” – We are proud to honor our Illinois State Troopers today and every day for the work they do protecting our home,” he wrote. “Happy Illinois State Trooper Day!”

WQAD 8 reported Governor J.B. Pritzker’s 2023 Fiscal Year budget plans to hire 300 troops, costing approximately $18.6 million.

"What we're looking at is rebuilding the Illinois State Police," ISP Director Brendan Kelly said to WQAD 8.

Cabello was elected to represent the people of the 90th District in November 2022. He previously served in the House of Representatives in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and lost in 2020, according to Ballotpedia.

The Pantagraph reported ISP saw 19 Illinois counties receive threats toward schools.

"It's very important that we continue to grow the number of sworn officers that we have because of the many responsibilities that we have," Kelly said to WQAD 8. "The more good people that we have, the more we will have success in confronting those challenges."

The ISP was founded 101 years ago - in 1922. Then it was called "Illinois Highway Maintenance Police." According to the ISP, in 1954 it was called “the Illinois State Highway Police Department of Public Safety. In 1957, a new law allowed for 1,100 full-time officers and 100 officers contracted to the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. The name “Illinois State Police” didn’t come to the department until 1988.

The Guardian reported GOP members in Congress voted against President Joe Biden’s $350 billion American Rescue Plan that gave funding to hire police.

On April 1, Lt. Gov. Julia Stratton tweeted her acknowledgment of the day: "April 1 is Illinois State Trooper Day, a day to honor the dedicated men and women of the @ILStatePolice. Thank you for your steadfast service and sacrifice."