Illinois State Police to honor all fallen officers with new memorial signs
The Illinois State Police, along with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Tollway, and the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation, announced on April 1 that every state police officer killed in the line of duty will be honored with a memorial sign along roadways across Illinois.
The initiative aims to recognize and remember each officer who has lost their life while serving the people of Illinois. The announcement highlights a commitment to ensuring that no sacrifice goes unrecognized for generations to come.
Governor JB Pritzker said, “The lives and legacies of our fallen State Police Officers deserve to be honored for generations to come, and we will ensure that no sacrifice goes unrecognized. Our State Police put their safety on the line to protect the People of Illinois, and that bravery and commitment will be memorialized along roadways across the state.”
According to officials, since its founding in 1922, seventy-three officers have died in service. Trooper Albert J. Hasson was noted as the first trooper killed in action after being struck by a vehicle near Chenoa in 1924. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said, “While the State has installed signs along Illinois highways in dedication of fallen ISP Officers over the years, we recognized there were not signs for every fallen ISP Officer, and to honor them, we are changing that. These Officers made the ultimate sacrifice for us all and these signs are one way to ensure that sacrifice is not forgotten.”
Over coming months, IDOT and Illinois Tollway crews will install uniform memorial signs at locations statewide where officers lost their lives. The current signage varies by design; new markers will feature a standardized appearance intended as an expression of respect for both officers and their families.
Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said these reminders serve an important purpose: “For the millions of drivers on Illinois roads each day, these signs are a reminder that Troopers constantly put their lives on the line to keep the public protected and safe.” Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway added: “Adding new standardized signs along our system will help ensure service dedication and sacrifice displayed by these Troopers is properly recognized.”
Jarod Ingebrigtsen from ISP Heritage Foundation also spoke about remembering those who paid "the ultimate sacrifice," saying he is thankful for efforts by state agencies pushing this initiative forward.
This project continues earlier legislative actions begun in 2011 when stretches of highway were designated in memory of individual troopers. The first known memorial sign was reportedly installed on State Highway 13 honoring Trooper Lory Price.