The Illinois State University Police Department was created, as were its sister state university police forces, by the Illinois General Assembly. There are three other state police entities created by the state legislature as well: the State Police, State Conservation Police, and the Secretary of State Police. Illinois State University Police enforce state and federal law, as well as make referrals to Community Rights and Responsibilities when university policies have been violated. Illinois State University is, figuratively speaking, “a city within a city” with a population 17 times larger than the median incorporated place (i.e., village, town, or city) in the state of Illinois, and 17.7 times larger when looking at the nation in the aggregate. The jurisdiction of Illinois State University Police is countywide, and the department routinely assists the Bloomington Police, McLean County Sheriff’s Police, and Normal Police Departments.
There is a constant exchange of information between the Illinois State University Police Department, Normal Police Department, Bloomington Police Department, McLean County Sheriff’s Police, Illinois State Police, McLean County State’s Attorney, Illinois Wesleyan Security, and the FBI on a monthly basis during the area chiefs meeting.
This cooperative relationship is maintained throughout the ranks from the chief to the street patrol officers. The University Police work routinely with the above agencies, as well as with other state
and federal law enforcement agencies. University Police detectives meet on a regular basis with members of other law enforcement agencies in the county to share information on crimes, to
discuss gang problems, and to share intelligence.
