Illinois Law Enforcement Achieves Near Universal Compliance in Inaugural SAFE-T Act Training Verification Cycle

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) today announced near universal compliance among active-duty law enforcement officers in the state's first verification group in the training verification process as mandated by the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act.

The high achievement rate for the "A-G" last name group, which encompasses more than 12,000 active officers, marks a significant milestone in the state's transition to a modernized, digital-first certification system. This transition was facilitated by the Board's new Officer Portal, which allowed the agency to deploy secure, targeted verification forms directly to the reporting group and meticulously track submissions.

"The success of this first verification cycle is a testament to the hard work of our staff and the cooperation of law enforcement agencies across Illinois," said Executive Director Keith Calloway. "We are leading the way with these processes as we ensure legal compliance while enhancing transparency and efficiency in Illinois law enforcement."

This initial success reflects a broader trend across the state. Preliminary data indicates that compliance among active officers in Illinois, whose verification periods are set to occur over the next two years, is currently meeting the historical benchmark of 98%, with the remaining 2% overwhelmingly representing individuals on medical or military leave, or individuals in the process of retiring.

For the small number of officers in the initial group who are still in the process of completing their requirements, ILETSB is collaborating with local agencies and Mobile Team Units to identify specific gaps and provide the necessary resources to ensure full compliance.

The three-year certification cycle requires officers to complete specialized training modules designed to enhance public safety and community relations. Among the key mandates verified during this cycle are:

Beyond standard statutory compliance, the agency has recorded an unprecedented surge in the development of law enforcement leadership. Training conducted through the ILETSB Executive Institute has experienced nearly 800% growth. A significant driver of this expansion is the highly adopted "New Chiefs Training," demonstrating that rigorous professional standards are being championed from the top down by local law enforcement leadership across the state.

The training verification process is a key component of the SAFE-T Act, requiring all Illinois law enforcement officers to verify their training records, their law enforcement employment and security work history, and that the officer has not committed disqualifying misconduct under Section 6.1 of the Police Training Act. This newly implemented process serves as a cornerstone of the state's efforts to maintain professional accountability and public trust.

Following the completion of this first phase, ILETSB is preparing to launch the next verification cycle by October 1, 2026. ILETSB is actively utilizing data and administrative insights gathered during the inaugural phase to further streamline communication and refined system tracking for future reporting groups. Officers in the "H-O" last name group are scheduled to begin their verification submissions on Jan. 1, 2027.

Officers and agency administrators are encouraged to continue utilizing the ILETSB Officer Portal for real-time updates and compliance resources.

About ILETSB

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board is the state agency mandated to promote and maintain a high level of professional standards for law enforcement and correctional officers. Its purpose is to promote and protect citizen health, safety, and welfare by encouraging municipalities, counties, park districts, State-controlled universities, colleges, public community colleges and other local governmental agencies of this state and participating State agencies in their efforts to upgrade and maintain a high level of training and standards for law enforcement personnel.