Public Accountability Report

The mission of the Illinois State Police Merit Board is to remove political influence and provide a fair and equitable merit process for the selection of Illinois State Trooper candidates and the promotion and discipline of Illinois State Police officers. 

The applicant certification process (recruitment and selection): the Board certifies applicants as eligible for hiring by the Illinois State Police.  Applicants are administered a written test, physical fitness test, background investigation and review, and oral interview. 

The promotion certification process (promotional assessments): the Board certifies sworn officers as eligible for promotion to higher ranks.  Promotional candidates seeking promotion to Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain are administered a written examination and an assessment exercise.  An assessment exercise was added to the target Sergeant rank, in order to provide an opportunity to answer questions verbally and show promotional suitability, rather than only being graded by a standardized written examination.  

The discipline process handles all instances where the Illinois State Police seeks discipline for sworn officers of a thirty-day suspension or greater, up to termination.  The Director of the Illinois State Police initiates the process by filing a Complaint with the Board.  The Board assigns the case to a hearing officer to conduct a hearing and issue recommended findings of fact and conclusions of law.  The Board then decides the case and issues the appropriate level of discipline.