The Illinois State Police held its first-ever Telecommunicators Graduation and Promotion Ceremony, swearing in 30 new telecommunicators and recognizing nine others for recent promotions.

Officials say telecommunicators play a critical role as the first point of contact during emergencies, providing a calm voice for callers in distress. ISP leadership noted the agency’s commitment to extensive training across all positions to ensure high-quality service for residents across Illinois, while also welcoming the newest telecommunicators and recognizing excellence within the department.

The ISP’s communication centers serve all 102 counties in Illinois and handle an average of 650,000 calls each year. Telecommunicators act as the first link in emergency response, connecting those in need with first responders heading to the scene. The agency currently employs 117 telecommunicators statewide.

The 30 graduates completed an intensive training program between November 2025 and February 2026. The program, conducted at six ISP communication centers, includes six to twelve months of classroom instruction along with hands-on, scenario-based training.

In addition to the graduates, nine telecommunicators were recognized for promotions to leadership roles, including Lead Workers, Supervisors, and Regional Managers.

ISP officials say the ceremony will now be held annually to recognize new telecommunicators and honor those advancing within the agency.