Illinois State Police Range, Training Illinois’ Finest!

By Cindy Ladage

On the western edge of town is the Illinois State Police Range. Josh Ward, the Academy Commander shared, “This is a statewide entity,” he said about the facility where they train Illinois State Police cadets.

Besides the State Police, Commander Ward added that the range is also used by others as well.  “We allow our federal partners like the FBI, and Secret Service as well as, Secretary of State Police, local law enforcement, Natural Resources Police, Corrections officers, and IRS agents.  Many agencies in central Illinois use this range.”

Master Sergent Michael Heffner-Dewitt said the range opened in the late 1980’s and has been operational ever since. At the range new recruits learn physical skills for their job. The training is in three phases. The first is Firearms. “They train on pistol, rifle, and shotgun. There are four ranges,” Master Sergent Heffner-Dewitt said.

The website training states, “Sworn Personnel, ISP Retirees, Cadets, and Recruits receive highly specialized training from the Illinois State Police Firearms Training Unit (FTU). Students are trained on weapon safety, efficient firearm handling, types of weapon marksmanship fundamentals, threat identification, and firearms related tactics.”

“Two of the ranges are capable for rifle training, and two for pistols,” Master Sergent Heffner-Dewitt explained. He added they also offer ongoing in-service range training for the state police and others.

Part of the firearms training includes classroom learning along with hands-on training on the firing range. The website defines the training the recruits and officers receive, “The Illinois State Police Academy training programs are designed to prepare new officers and to support current law enforcement personnel for the varied, and at times difficult, situations in which they may be engaged. Students are prepared for the complexity of the role of law enforcement through classroom sessions and participation in practical exercises in a range of topic areas intended to enhance and improve on knowledge and skills…”

Much of this training takes place right at the Pawnee facility. The second arm of training at the Illinois State Police Range is their EVOC, or Emergency Vehicle Operations Courses. Master Sergent Heffner-Dewitt said this is the police driving course where cadets and some local agencies train with EVOC precision. “Precision is driving tight with cones and getting in and out like in an urban environment.”

The serpentine course requires them to drive backwards without back up cameras, drive fast while handling the radio at the same time, and more. The course provides officers with the information and abilities to create a program not only consistent in their driver’s training techniques, but efficient and professional in its presentation. Besides the driving course, there is also a driving simulator as well, which offers decision-making training in a safe environment.

There is so much more to the training than just the handling of the vehicle, Master Sergent Heffner-Dewitt shared that they learn when it is appropriate to give chase, and when it is not.  Judgement comes in during in each individual situation, “We teach them decision making,” Commander Ward said. Sometimes rather than give chase he added, “There may be other safer options.”

As with the firearms training, Commander Ward said with the EVOC training, “We bring troopers back for an abbreviated refresher course.”

One technique they use during the EVOC course is PIT, Precision Immobilization Technique.  PIT is a law enforcement tactic used to stop a fleeing vehicle by forcing it to spin out and come to a stop.

The third type of training offered at the Pawnee range is that of being a canine facility.  The most common breeds of dog used by the ISP are Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, and Dutch Shepherd. Master Sergent Heffner-Dewitt said the German Shepherd is the largest dog, with the Belgian Malinois being a bit smaller and more agile, but high energy. “The Dutch Shepherd is a nice in between. It is athletic but has a clearer head than the Malinois.”

“We offer two canine training courses one in the spring, and one in the fall,” Sergent Michael Heffner-Dewitt said. “It is a ten-week course on canine handling. The officers selected are matched with a dog to go through the course with.”

Dogs learn obedience, agility, article search, tracking, narcotic detection, cadaver detection, criminal apprehension, and building and area search. Police dog training typically involves a combination of training the dog and training the handler as a team. The dogs are usually green, meaning they have no training prior to being selected. Most canines are bred overseas and then purchased from a vendor/facility here in the U.S.  There are 70 teams statewide. ISP also evaluates canine teams from the ISP, counties, and local agencies every six months.

With all the initial training for Cadets and Recruits, and follow up training for troopers Commander Ward said, “This is just a busy place there is something going on all the time. There are people shooting at the range almost every day, canine training is busy half of the year, they are all training a lot. It is intense and taxing on trainees and equipment.”

With nine full-time employees Commander Ward said besides the full-time staff, there are often 20-25 people onsite most days. They train year-round in all types of weather to meet the high-quality standards to be an ISP trooper, or qualified partner for the multitude of agencies that use this high-in demand facility right outside of town.

Besides the busy training center, Commander Ward said the center is a boon for the community because troopers stop at local eateries, get gas, and buy items.

The Pawnee training facility is large, encompassing 152 acres, with 96 of the acres fenced in, and the remaining in farmland. There is hope that the facility will be upgraded at some point and time in the future.

The Illinois State Police Range has some of the best instructors in the US, and both Commander Josh Ward, and Master Sergent Michael Heffner-Dewitt who grew up in the Pawnee area are proud of the facility and all it brings to law enforcement, and the local community.