IL State Police Open New Center In Des Plaines To Combat Violent Crime

DES PLAINES, IL — With a goal of getting more criminals off the street, Illinois State Police announced it recently opened a new technology center in Des Plaines. According to officials, the center is using state-of-the-art technology to process and analyze digital evidence quickly in real time.

The center is intended to help solve crimes committed on expressways in Chicagoland and in local communities. Zone 1 also opened a similar center in Lockport.

"The new ISP Technology Centers are equipped with the latest technology allowing ISP to increase the clearance rate for violent crimes and aid in narcotics, public integrity, internet crimes against children, and human trafficking investigations," ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said in a news release.

According to ISP, the Division of Criminal Investigation team in Zone 1 saw a clearance rate of 80 percent for homicides so far in August. The centers are the latest attempt by police to reduce expressway violence, following increased patrols, strategic violent crime reduction missions, automated license plate readers, and air operations.

The centers are equipped to investigate raw video footage, cellphone extractions and search warrant returns by utilizing newly installed technology and software.