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State Police Seeking Trooper Applications By End of May

Master Sergeant Hector Alejandre (left) and Trooper Aldo Schumann are recruitment coordinators at the Illinois State Police
Chase Cavanaugh
Master Sergeant Hector Alejandre (left) and Trooper Aldo Schumann are recruitment coordinators at the Illinois State Police
Master Sergeant Hector Alejandre (left) and Trooper Aldo Schumann are recruitment coordinators at the Illinois State Police
Credit Chase Cavanaugh
Master Sergeant Hector Alejandre (left) and Trooper Aldo Schumann are recruitment coordinators at the Illinois State Police

Illinois State Police are pushing to add more troopers to their ranks.  Master Sergeant Hector Alejandre says they’re trying to assemble a large class at the Trooper Academy.

“We’re always going to be looking for folks. Our current numbers now are at 1,718 sworn. That is a significant loss," he said.

Even with new recruits applying for the position, not all make it through the vetting process. That’s why Trooper Aldo Schumann says ISP wants to sign up as many candidates as possible.

“For the next class, we want to make it, let’s say a 'mega class.' We’d like to at least see a hundred cross the stage and become Illinois State Troopers,” he said.

The next group ISP wants to assemble would start in October. Schumann says those interested in that class need to submit their applications by the end of this month.

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Chase started in radio while earning his Master's in diplomacy and international commerce at the University of Kentucky. He was bitten by the radio bug while volunteering at Radio Eye (a local equivalent to NIRIS) and soon became a reporter at WUKY. After four years of reporting in Kentucky's Bluegrass, Chase traveled north to join WNIJ as Morning Edition producer. He organizes our morning broadcast, making sure the host is well-supplied with interesting, fresh content. In addition to his pre-dawn duties, Chase reports on a variety of developments in our broadcast area but is particularly drawn to anything with a political or international connection. He is also an avid board gamer.