Monday, June 29, 2009

Who runs the Illinois State Police?

Gov. Quinn appointed a 29-year-old man to head the Illinois State Police in March. That's "29-year-old", not 29-year veteran.

The Associated Press has recently reported that the Illinois Senate has yet to confirm (or approve or ratify) this appointment of "Acting Director" Jonathon Monken.

Monken has already dropped the "Acting" part of his title. Read the press release on the Illinois State Police website, where on May 21 the release starts off with "Illinois State Police Director Jonathon E. Monken today announced ..."

Ahh, maybe he just "forgot" that he is still Acting Director. Or maybe possession (of the office) is 9/10ths of the law. Or maybe he didn't "forget." Who told the press officer to drop the important "Acting" part of his title?

As I hear it, a number of troopers are very upset with this appointment of a young man with no police experience and little administrative experience. Monken's major employment since college graduation seems to have been running a tank crew in our current war. In college, he was in charge of some cadets. Are those qualifications adequate for running the Illinois State Police?

The Director position of the Illinois State Police should require excellent administrative skills and experience, both management and financial, and I just don't see how a tank commander has that. And it certainly couldn't hurt to have some civilian police experience.

Wasn't there anyone qualified in the ranks of the Illinois State Police to move up?

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