The Illinois State Police Podcast

Kurtis Productions Ltd

Hosted by State Police Director Brendan Kelly and narrated by legendary anchorman and documentarian Bill Kurtis, the Illinois State Police podcast explores different issues related to police policy and procedure in an ever-evolving legal landscape. In each episode, we'll be hearing from multiple guests ranging from law enforcement officials, legal experts, forensic scientists, crime victims, and other experts involved in the topics being discussed. The Illinois State Police Podcast is produced by Kurtis Productions Ltd. www.kurtis.com Original Theme Music Composed by David Huizenga

Episodes

  1. 12/23/2025

    ISP Holiday Q&A, Stories from the Field, and More

    In this special holiday edition of the ISP Podcast, host Director Brendan Kelly is joined by a panel of several officers, special agents, and telecommunicators, some currently active and some retired. They share stories about their weirdest nights on duty, their most embarrassing or funny moments, and other noteworthy stories ranging from lighthearted to more serious. We'll hear about surprise trucks full of elephants, high-speed emu chases, accidentally falling into sewage ditches while in pursuit of a suspect, and much more.

    58 min

  2. 11/13/2025

    Saving Lives, on or off Duty

    As we open this file from the Illinois State Police we enter the world of instant decision-making to save lives.   Among the oath taken by officers of the law is a commitment to safeguarding lives. Many times, the action involves a traffic crash, and sometimes, it’s an armed dispute. Regardless of the circumstance, Illinois State Police are upholding their oath and taking action. In this episode, host Director Brendan Kelly will be speaking with and hearing the stories of multiple heroic State Police Officers involved in lifesaving incidents. Some were on regular patrol duties or responding to calls, and some just happened to be in the right place at the right time, even during off-duty hours. While heroism is often celebrated, what is often not discussed is the toll taken on officers in these scenarios, both during the incidents and afterwards. This, and much more, will be explored and discussed by those who have lived through moments like these.   Guests include ISP Trooper Wes Van Hook, Master Sergeant Mark Flack, Special Agent Eric Heberer, Sergeant Cynthia Pfau W., and Master Sergeant Ross Green.

    56 min

  3. 09/23/2025

    Drug Poisonings and Drug-Induced Homicide Prosecution

    As we open this file from the Illinois State Police we enter the ever-changing world of drugs.   Fentynyl poisoning is currently the leading cause of death for Americans age 18-45. In recent years, the substance has accounted for nearly 70% of drug overdose deaths. According to the National Forensic Laboratory Information System, over 40% of heroin seized by authorities tested positive for fentanyl lacing. It has been found added to just about every kind of drug imaginable. On rare occasions, it’s even been found in more innocuous-seeming drugs like marijuana, or in medication like Adderall.   In what are now being more appropriately deemed “drug poisoning” cases, where individuals were sold laced or unexpectedly-strong drugs that lead to overdose deaths, new legal precedent and legislation is being spearheaded to help hold dealers accountable. Due to this change in approach, what previously may have only been viable as distribution or manufacturing charges can now potentially be escalated to a drug-induced homicide charge.   In this episode our host, ISP Director Brendan Kelly, will be speaking with several expert guests knowledgeable about and experienced with drug enforcement. We will hear the story of Terry Almanza, a retired CPD officer who, since losing a daughter to drug poisoning, has become a vocal advocate pushing for drug-induced homicide legislation through her organization poisoningofamerica.org.   Other guests include FBI Special Agent Robert Wieczorek, ISP Master Sergeant Wayne Ladd from Will County CPAT, and Joliet Chief of Police William Evans.

    1h 4m

  4. 06/25/2025

    Human Trafficking

    As a young adult, Kelley Marshall had a promising start. She had a young daughter, a good job, a new apartment, and a new car. After falling on some hard times due to a traffic accident, a man came along who at first seemed to be her knight in shining armor. Initially expressing genuine concern and interest in Kelley and even helping to financially support her and her daughter, he appeared at first to be her altruistic, caring boyfriend… All along the way never revealing that he was actually a pimp, until it was too late.   Utilizing grooming and psychological manipulation built upon Kelley’s traumatic upbringing, the man eventually coerced her into becoming a prostitute, separating her from her daughter and sending her down a path riddled with horrific abuses and multiple different traffickers across multiple states. After spending six years as a sex trafficking victim, Kelley finally managed to escape and rebuild her life from scratch. In the time since, she has become a vocal advocate against human trafficking.   Stories like Kelley’s are unfortunately far too common. According to the United Nations, an estimated 27.6 million people are victimized by human trafficking worldwide. In today’s world, the warning signs can be difficult to recognize for many, and anybody can potentially be a victim regardless of socioeconomic background or location. The bonds keeping trafficking victims from escaping are not always purely physical either, with traffickers often utilizing blackmail, fraud, violence, and other coercive methods of control.   In this episode, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly will be speaking with Kelley as she shares her story, as well as Dylan Wecht, a representative for the nonprofit Kelley now works with, “Truckers Against Trafficking.”  Director Kelly will also be speaking with an unidentified undercover agent tasked with spearheading enforcement of the issue, and with Sara Runyon from The Center for Prevention of Abuse.  Together, they will explore the nuances of human trafficking and discuss potential approaches to seek justice while also helping victims.

    57 min

  5. 06/04/2025

    Building Back Broken Communities - The Ongoing Struggle For East St. Louis

    East St. Louis is a city that has struggled with just about every possible difficulty that a community can be subjected to. High crime rates, lack of job opportunities for its residents, and a plethora of other issues have resulted in the city losing over 75% of its population since peaking in the 1950s. At various points, the city has had the highest per-capita murder rate in the entire nation. With such a negative public perception, attracting businesses to invest in the area, despite being in a very desirable geographic location for shipping and transportation, has been extraordinarily difficult.  While the fight is still ongoing and the broader issues are far from solved, several efforts have made substantial progress in East St. Louis. In particular, the ISP’s Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) has made great strides in facilitating effective collaboration between local and state agencies. In a partnership that was previously unprecedented, Illinois State Police officers have worked alongside and pooled resources with East St. Louis Police officers, resulting in more solved cases, more convictions, and an overall decline in the city’s crime rates during the program’s tenure. In this episode our host, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, will be speaking with and hearing the story of Brittany Williams, a local woman who was unexpectedly caught in the crossfire of a shootout while at an East St. Louis gas station with her family, ultimately resulting in her nephew being killed and her son being hospitalized. We will also be joined by several individuals involved in the ongoing fight to save East St. Louis and to enable it to build back stronger, from the perspectives of both law enforcement, with representatives from the local police department and the ISP, and from community outreach organizations from the area, such as the Community Lifeline Center.

    1h 15m

  6. 04/23/2025

    Sexual Assault Legislation, Prosecution, and Victim Advocacy

    After being the victim of a sexual assault in 2021, Northwestern University undergraduate student Kaylyn Ahn set out on a journey to close a legal loophole in Illinois, regarding alcohol and substance consumption, that prevented prosecutors from pursuing a case against her aggressor. Ahn drafted a bill to close the loophole and update the definition of consent in the state’s sexual assault law. Introduced into the Illinois General Assembly by Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), the bill passed in 2022. Since then, police departments across the state have been re-training officers in handling sexual assault cases, and thousands of previously unaddressed sexual assault cases are now eligible for prosecution.  Ahn has continued to be a vocal advocate for reforming sexual assault legislation, speaking at universities, fundraisers, and political events across the country. In this episode, hosted once again by Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, we also hear from several other experts representing law enforcement, forensics, and victim advocacy centers- all discussing the complicated nuance of sexual assault prosecution, and how to better seek justice and peace for victims while retaining accountability and due process. Intro and Outro narrated by Bill Kurtis. Original Theme music by David Huizenga.

    1h 3m

  7. 04/08/2025

    Internet Safety for Children

    In 2002, at the age of 13, Alicia Kozakiewicz became the first known victim of an Internet luring and child abduction that received widespread media attention. Kozakiewicz had corresponded online with someone she thought to be a girl named "Christine". In reality, "Christine" was actually a 31-year-old man named Scott Tyree. Over the course of nearly a year, Tyree groomed the 13-year-old Alicia, before eventually kidnapping and trapping her in his basement dungeon, where he abused her while broadcasting everything on a live internet stream. Alicia miraculously survived thanks to an anonymous online tip that allowed law enforcement officials to track down Tyree's IP address and rescue Alicia. In the years since, Alicia has become one of the most influential advocates for improved internet safety for children. She has been featured on a multitude of media outlets, and travels the country speaking to schools and pushing for improved legislation.  In this episode, Alicia will be joining our host, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, where they will discuss the issues surrounding internet safety for children with several other expert guests, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Intro and outro narrated by Bill Kurtis. Original theme music composed by David Huizenga. For more information about Alicia's efforts to educate children and parents about internet safety and advance legislation to help, visit her website at aliciakozak.com. Her new book "The Internet Safety Guidebook: Protecting Kids in the Digital Age" was released in February, 2025 and is available now.

    1h 3m
  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Hosted by State Police Director Brendan Kelly and narrated by legendary anchorman and documentarian Bill Kurtis, the Illinois State Police podcast explores different issues related to police policy and procedure in an ever-evolving legal landscape. In each episode, we'll be hearing from multiple guests ranging from law enforcement officials, legal experts, forensic scientists, crime victims, and other experts involved in the topics being discussed. The Illinois State Police Podcast is produced by Kurtis Productions Ltd. www.kurtis.com Original Theme Music Composed by David Huizenga

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