Today is Illinois Trooper Day. In honor of Illinois Trooper Day, the Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway, and the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation have announced that every ISP Officer killed in the line of duty will soon be honored for their sacrifice that they’ve made for the people of Illinois. This honor will be given in the form of a memorial sign along Illinois roadways.
Governor JB Pritzker says that the lives and legacies of our fallen state police officers deserve to be honored for generations to come. Gov. Pritzker also stated that the state will ensure that no sacrifice goes unrecognized. Gov. Pritzker mentioned as well that our state police officers put their safety on the line to protect the people of Illinois. According to Gov. Pritzker, that bravery and commitment will soon be memorialized along the roadside across the state.
Trooper Albert J. Hasson was the first ISP Trooper killed in the line of duty. Hasson’s death came after being struck by a vehicle while on patrol on old Route 66, just north of Chenoa, in 1924. Since the agency began providing services on? April 1, 1922, a total of 73 ISP Officers have died in the line of duty.
ISP Director, Brendan F. Kelly, commented that while the State has installed signs along Illinois highways in dedication of fallen state police officers over the years, there were not signs for every fallen state police officer, and to honor them, the state plans on changing that.
Drivers on Illinois state highways and main roads can expect that over the next several months,the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway will erect uniform signs for all of Illinois’ fallen state police officers. Unlike the current signs, which vary in design, the new signs will be standardized for a uniform look that shows respect for the officer’s themselves, as well as their family’s sacrifice.
Illinois Tollway Director, Cassaundra Rouse, says that the Illinois Tollway relies on the ISP to protect and assist ?the drivers and workers on their system. Rouse also said that they are proud to participate in this initiative to ensure the sacrifices made by these fallen troopers are properly honored.
In 2011, the General Assembly began passing resolutions designating stretches of various highways in honor of ISP officers killed in the line of duty.
It is believed the first ISP memorial sign was installed on State Highway 13 in honor of Trooper Lory Price, who was murdered with his wife, by the notorious Charlie Birger Gang in 1927. ?
