Section 1295.30  Qualification, Certification, and Recertification of Officers

No person shall engage in the interception of private oral communication as described in the Act, unless authorized to do so pursuant to certification provisions elaborated in this Part.

a)         Qualifications – The qualifications of all candidates for certification as electronic criminal surveillance officers shall be specified in an application to the Director from the chief executive officer of the law enforcement agency which the candidate represents.  The application shall include a recommendation of the candidate by the chief executive officer.  Other information to be supplied shall include:

1)         The candidate's name, sex, date of birth, and agency identification number;

2)         The candidate's business address and telephone numbers; and

3)         Statement that the candidate is a full-time law enforcement officer or a retired law enforcement officer.

b)         Certification – Electronic Criminal Surveillance Officer (ECSO) training and certification shall be provided by the Department.  ECSO training and training for recertification shall be certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board (see 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1720) and shall include training in the legal, practical, and technical aspects of the interception of private oral communications and related investigation and prosecution techniques. 

c)         Upon successful completion of training, an officer shall be certified by the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and shall be authorized to perform the following tasks:

1)         Preparing petitions for the authority to intercept private oral communications in accordance with the provisions of the Act;

2)         Intercepting and supervising the interception of conversations;

3)         Handling, safeguarding, and utilizing evidence derived from such conversations; and

4)         Operating and maintaining equipment used to intercept such conversations. 

d)         ECSO certification, unless renewed by recertification, expires in 5 years.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 13430, effective October 5, 2021)