SR0806 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0806 LRB097 21795 JWD 70367 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly created the Police Training Institute (PTI) at the University of Illinois in 1955; and

WHEREAS, The PTI is the largest police training academy in this State, has trained officers in all 102 counties of this State, and has trained 64% of the officers outside of the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, the PTI trained 32% of officers statewide, and that percentage rose to 42% in 2010, while enrollment fell in all academies due to the recession; and

WHEREAS, The PTI trains the trainers for other police training academies throughout Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly created the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board (ILETSB) in 1965; and

WHEREAS, The ILETSB wishes to close the PTI and use the funds to open a new academy under its management; and

WHEREAS, State statute requires that the Director of the PTI be a member of the ILETSB; and

WHEREAS, The State statute creating the ILETSB does not authorize it to override the statute creating the PTI; and

WHEREAS, The State statute establishing the ILETSB does not give it the authority to run an academy; and

WHEREAS, The ILETSB has also "decertified" the Illinois State Police Academy in the past, although it was later restored; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the PTI shall remain open and its funding must not be diverted to create a new academy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the ILETSB shall abide by the laws that created the PTI and the ILETSB and not assume new powers without legislative authority; and be it further

RESOLVED, That no new police training academies shall be created until the level of enrollment and the condition of State finances would make this academically reasonable and financially feasible; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the ILETSB is directed to establish objective professional standards for decertifying courses at police training academies so that minor disagreements do not escalate into disruptions of training; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President and the members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Director of the Police Training Institute, and to the Executive Director and members of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.