Illinois Public Board Issues Leave Notification Memo

During a conference for police chiefs in August 2024, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) provided a memo detailing new reporting obligations for all law enforcement employers, including municipalities and most colleges, when officers go out on military or medical leave for 30 days or more. As outlined below, ILETSB now expects law enforcement employers to report both when officers begin such a leave and when they return.

Military Leave

1. Leave Initiation Notification

When an officer will be out on military leave for 30 days or more, law enforcement employers must send ILETSB a memo:

1. on official letterhead
2. requesting that the Board temporarily suspend the officer’s account
3. signed and dated by the Chief, Sheriff, Deputy Chief, or Deputy Sheriff
4. State the office’s name, PTB #, date to begin leave and return date (if known)

Employers should send this memo, along with the officer’s military orders, as a combined PDF to PTB.Certification@illinois.gov.

Additionally, employers should logon to their Law Enforcement Document Exchange (LEDI) portal and advise in the officer’s notes section “officer out on military leave, memo sent to ILETSB on [insert date].”

2. Leave Return Notification

When an officer seeks to return from military leave for 30 days or more, law enforcement employers must send a ILETSB an additional memo to PTB.Certification@illinois.gov: (a) on official letterhead, (b) requesting the Board un-suspend the officer’s account, and (c) remove the previous notation in the officer’s LEDI file regarding the leave.

Medical Leave Initiation and Return Notifications

The requirements for reporting an officer’s medical leave for 30 days or more and request to return from such leave are the same as the requirements for reporting military leave. The only differences are that employers are to refer to the leave as a medical leave and will not have to provide military orders.

Suspension Status

Once law enforcement employers complete the leave initial notifications, ILETSB will “suspend” the officer’s account until their return, which places a temporary hold on their training account during the leave period. Importantly, officers will not be able to work in a law enforcement capacity until the Board has received notification that they have returned from leave. Moreover, upon receipt of the return notifications, the Board will determine what if any training should be completed before the officer returns to full, active duty.

Contact your Robbins Schwartz attorney with any questions on the ILETSB memo or other law enforcement issues.