IL State Police holds domestic violence training in Africa

Bradley Zimmerman
·1 min read

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Four officers of the Illinois State Police recently saw their jobs take them not just outside the state, but outside the United States.

The ISP officers deployed to the West African nation of Ghana, officials said, to help provide Domestic and Gender Based Violence (DGBV) investigation training. Officials explained that multiple African countries selected domestic violence and gender-based violence as a top priority for training, and the ISP has specialized training to address DGBV investigations.

“Our Illinois State Police troopers are exceptional and going above and beyond to share their expertise across the globe,” Governor JB Pritzker said. ​“I couldn’t be prouder of our Illinois State Police officers who were deployed to West Africa to train law enforcement on how to conduct DGBV investigations.”

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Their deployment came at the request of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), which the Illinois State Police entered a partnership with in 2021.

“As one of the best law enforcement agencies in the country, ISP is honored to be chosen again by the U.S. Department of State for this project, bringing tried and true investigative techniques with a victim-centered approach to help end the cycle of violence,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. ​”Illinois has global ties with the potential for transnational threats and these professional connections benefit Illinois law enforcement and our partners abroad.”

Since partnering with the INL, the Illinois State Police has deployed overseas twice to support international law enforcement, justice sector reform and anti-crime efforts, officials said. State Troopers conducted DGBV training in Budapest in 2022 and in the country of Georgia last year.

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