The Illinois State Police are celebrating their 100th anniversary Friday April 2nd. The ISP began April 1st in 1922 with just a Director and eight highway patrolmen with a mission of protecting new roads from damage by heavy trucks. Since then, the agency has evolved to include criminal investigations, forensics, patrols and drug investigations with the use of K-9 units among others. The ISP now has more than 29,000 employees including 1800 plus sworn officers. Governor J.B Pritzker praised the work of the ISP this week and said he wants to see more troopers including female officers added in 2022.