SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illinois State Police (ISP) will join departments from across the country in Washington D.C. for National Police Week, held May 11 through May 17, 2025. The annual observance honors the sacrifice of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, including ISP’s own Trooper Corey Thompsen and Trooper Clay Carns, who both lost their lives in 2024 due to injuries sustained in traffic crashes.
“National Police Week is especially poignant for ISP this year as we honor both Trooper Corey Thompsen and Trooper Clay Carns, who were killed in the line of duty in 2024, and recognize them and their families for making the ultimate sacrifice,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “It takes a special kind of person to be willing to walk out their front door every day, knowing it could be their last, and doing it anyway. God Bless law enforcement and law enforcement families, those we’ve lost, those who have served, and those who are serving.”
National Police Week provides a platform for remembrance, appreciation, and solidarity among officers and citizens alike. Key events such as the Candlelight Vigil and the National Memorial Service are open to the public and serve as powerful moments of tribute for fallen officers and their families. ISP officers will not only pay tribute to Thompsen and Carns but will also join other agencies in honoring law enforcement personnel nationwide who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
In addition to honoring the fallen, ISP officers will be on hand to provide support and assistance to the families, friends, and coworkers of Troopers Thompsen and Carns throughout the week’s events. Their participation underscores the department’s enduring commitment to those who serve and those left behind.