Latest news with #BrendanF.Kelly
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Illinois State Police gifted new, high-tech command vehicle
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois State Police is adding a new, state-of-the-art vehicle to its fleet, one that administrators hope will enhance public safety and improve emergency response coordination. It's a 2025 Freightliner command vehicle, which will replace a similar vehicle that is 18 years old and outfitted with antiquated technology. The new vehicle has high-definition cameras and monitors, state-of-the-art communications technology and real-time data access. It can also function as a conference room with dual slide-outs. Illinois appoints first female State Fire Marshal Administrators said in a news release that the vehicle will serve as a central hub for State Troopers during emergencies like natural disasters, large-scale accidents and search-and-rescue operations. ISP also plans to use it for training officers on responding to HAZMAT incidents. 'This command vehicle gives us the ability to respond faster, coordinate more effectively, and better serve our communities during critical incidents,' Director Brendan F. Kelly said. 'It's a mobile operations center that puts technology and leadership exactly where it's needed most—right on the ground at the scene of the incident.' The vehicle will also serve a purpose beyond emergency situations. To strengthen the connection between the Illinois State Police and the public, the vehicle will also be used for community outreach programs, safety demonstrations and public events. The Freightliner was provided to the ISP by the Office of Radiological Studies within the U.S. Department of Energy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sgt. William Lind honored with Law Enforcement Medal of Honor
Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan F. Kelly, the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee and law enforcement officials around the state gathered for the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony in Springfield to honor officers who performed acts of heroism. The committee awarded 23 officers from 10 agencies the Medal of Honor in recognition of their brave and sacrificial service to the people of Illinois. Locally, the committee honored Sgt. William Lind from the East Moline Police Department. 'Today, we pay tribute to our heroic police officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty while protecting our communities,' said Governor Pritzker. 'From Palatine to Chicago to Granite City, our honorees saved lives and offered comfort and support to countless others. While we will never be able to repay their bravery in full, we hope that this recognition can serve as a public reminder of our gratitude and a symbol of the sincere reverence we hold them in.' The Medal of Honor is given to officers who have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty or who have displayed exceptional bravery or heroism while performing their duties as a law enforcement officer. 'Today we recognize and praise these outstanding examples of courage,' said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. 'These men and women faced extreme danger, remained brave in the face of imminent threats, and performed with the highest heroism. Today and forever, we thank and honor them.' The Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee was created in statute through the Law Enforcement and Fire Fighting Medal of Honor Act in 1990. Members on the committee currently include ISP Director Kelly, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Director Keith Calloway, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling, DeKalb Police Department Chief David Byrd, retired ISP Master Sergeant and St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye, Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg and Central Illinois Police Training Center Director Brian Fengel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois Gaming Board's new rules on human trafficking and casinos
CHICAGO, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)— The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has created new rules for casinos across Illinois to combat human trafficking. The new rules put into place will now require casinos statewide to conduct mandatory human trafficking recognition training, develop, document, and implement human trafficking training and reporting procedures. Once these procedures are put in place, they will provide a report to the IGB. The new rules will also require casinos to post human trafficking awareness notices. The notices will be posted in bathrooms, near public entrances, and in other visible locations. The notices will include hotline contact numbers and other important information like where to seek help or report instances of trafficking. 'Human traffickers often target casinos and hospitality venues to conduct their illegal activities,' said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. 'By adopting mandatory human trafficking recognition training, establishing minimum requirements for that training, and requiring casino operators to implement appropriate reporting and signage protocols, the IGB, while working in partnership with the Illinois State Police (ISP) and other law enforcement agencies, is taking meaningful steps to combat these heinous crimes.' The new rules were implemented after approval from the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules on May 2. These rules will require employees of the casinos to take the training within three months of beginning employment. The training will cover topics such as things that might make an individual more susceptible, the different types, red flags to look for, and agencies to contact on human trafficking. 'Human trafficking is one of the most underreported and under-identified crimes,' said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. 'Because human trafficking can come in many forms and can happen almost anywhere, it is important to train people working in industries targeted by human traffickers to recognize the signs so they can report the crimes and help save lives.' The full wording of the new rules can be viewed here. While the Indiana Gaming Board has no such rules for its casinos, House Bill 1416 was just passed on May 6 requiring safety rest areas, gas stations, and welcome centers to display human trafficking awareness information, and permits massage establishments to display human trafficking awareness information. 'This bill is a great first step in curbing human trafficking in our state. … If having these posters on display in our gas stations and rest areas can save just one life, it's worth it,' said Rep. John Barlett (D-Indianapolis). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
01-05-2025
- New York Times
Illinois Driver Who Killed 4 May Have Had a Medical Emergency, Officials Say
The Illinois State Police said on Thursday that the woman who drove her Jeep through an after-school center in Chatham, Ill., earlier this week could have experienced a medical episode before the crash, which killed three children and a teenager. The driver, a 44-year-old Chatham resident, tested negative for alcohol and controlled substances in the aftermath, authorities said. 'Some evidence has been developed indicating the possibility of a medical emergency leading up to the crash,' Brendan F. Kelly, the director of the Illinois State Police, said at a news conference on Thursday. 'However, the investigation of this information and other evidence has not yet concluded, and will continue until all leads and research have been exhausted.' The crash occurred on Monday afternoon, when dozens of children were at the privately owned after-school center, Y.N.O.T. Outdoors. The car left the road, veered through an open field and into the building. Once inside, the car burst through another wall and finally stopped when it hit a ballpark fence. Mr. Kelly said that data from the car would be analyzed as part of the investigation. The driver, who was not injured, was taken to a hospital and released. No charges have been filed, and the driver is not in custody. The authorities have said that the crash did not appear to be a 'targeted attack.' Killed in the crash were 7-year-old Alma Buhnerkempe, 7-year-old Kathryn Corley, 8-year-old Ainsley Johnson and 18-year-old Rylee Britton. Since Monday, Chatham residents have gathered in shock and sorrow at memorials and candlelight vigils, wearing red — the school district's color — to honor the victims. Galen Johnson, Ainsley's grandfather, wrote in a Facebook post that 'words alone cannot express the pain' the family was feeling from the loss.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
ISP works to combat human trafficking
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to combat trafficking, including human trafficking. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly, along with key stakeholders representing human trafficking survivors, law enforcement, and support service providers, appeared before the Senate Criminal Law Committee to speak to Senate Bill 2323. The proposed legislation includes development of a strategic plan to improve the victim-centered, trauma-informed law enforcement response to individuals who have been trafficked, as well as developing training standards for detection, investigation, and response to human trafficking. 'Human trafficking can come in many forms, from commercial sex acts to forced labor,' Kelly said. 'Because human trafficking has many faces and can happen almost anywhere, it is important to have a comprehensive, statewide trauma-informed response that encompasses those who may come in contact with individuals who are being trafficked, such as law enforcement, child services, case workers, treatment providers, and others.' To combat human trafficking, one of the most underreported and under-identified crimes, the ISP Trafficking Enforcement Bureau (TEB) conducted seven human trafficking demand suppression operations in 2024, resulting in 31 arrests and 90 criminal charges. Locally, ISP's work in Danville resulted in 5 arrests and 16 charges. Charges filed during the seven operations include Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Child, Grooming, Solicitation to Meet a Child, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Armed Violence – all felonies. In addition to the demand suppression operations, ISP obtained charges in three more cases, including charges of Involuntary Servitude and Promoting Prostitution. Since TEB's creation in 2022, more than 1,200 ISP officers have received human trafficking awareness training, and more than 130 officers have been trained in advanced investigative techniques related to human trafficking investigations. In 2024, ISP partnered with the Texas Department of Public Safety to provide Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) training for front-line officers to recognize signs a child may be a victim, at-risk of victimization, or missing. ISP continues to develop and support victim-centered human trafficking investigations and plans to conduct at least one operation each month. ISP works closely with local law enforcement and community organizations to provide essential services to those who have been trafficked, including medical, mental, and substance use treatment, as well as food, clothing, short and long-term housing, financial aid, and help obtaining legal assistance. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are victims of trafficking worldwide, including in the United States and in Illinois. The signs of human trafficking can be subtle. To learn more, visit Recognizing the Signs | National Human Trafficking Hotline. If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. For more information visit or email
