The state agency responsible for training and certifying law enforcement hopes to receive $23.1 million from lawmakers this year to improve curriculum and pay instructors. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board is in the process of making many changes to comply with the SAFE-T Act.

According to our news partners at WAND TV, ILETSB leaders told a Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday that the board has already hired 15 people to help with operations and implementation of the SAFE-T Act. Although, the agency anticipates they will need 23 more people hired over the next year.

Executive Director Keith Calloway told lawmakers the board approved a 640 hour basic law enforcement curriculum and a 320 hour correctional course to allow for more scenario-based training for officers.

“These additional weeks will allow the curriculum additions of the SAFE-T Act to be better addressed and integrate into the comprehensive basic training program,” Calloway explained. “We have also revived the in-service training program to add more scenario-based training and streamlined certain courses to ensure that the mandates are more closely met.”

The SAFE-T Act also required ILETSB members to accept complaints made against officers from members of the public, state’s attorneys and police departments. Calloway said ILETSB just completed its second annual report on those complaints.

“We’ve had 496 complaints and we’ve referred at least half of those back to employing agencies for initial investigation,” said Calloway. “A select few have been identified as egregious conduct and have been sent before a certification review panel.”

Law enforcement in the state’s largest counties and municipalities were required to start using body cameras at the start of this year. However, officers in communities with less than 50,000 people will need to wear body cameras by January 1, 2025.

“We are in the process of awarding $10 million in came grants this week,” Calloway noted. “We anticipate awarding an additional $3 million before the close of the fiscal year.”

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board is in the process of making many changes to comply with the SAFE-T Act.

Senate Bill 3877 notes that ILETSB needs $60 million for grants to help local police departments install dash cameras and train officers to use their body cameras. The money is appropriated in the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Fund.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 includes $149.6 million state and federal funds. ILETSB is expected to receive $4 million from the state’s general funds as well.