Iraq Veteran, 29, Is State's Top Cop

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
Chicago Tribune
March 23, 2009
Pg. 7

Quinn taps former Army captain to lead Illinois force
By Jeff Long, Tribune Reporter
Gov. Pat Quinn on Sunday appointed a 29-year-old war veteran who finished in the top 1 percent of his West Point class to direct the Illinois State Police.
"I will work tirelessly," Jonathon Monken said. "My ultimate goal is to serve with distinction."
During a news conference Sunday afternoon at the Thompson Center, Quinn praised the former U.S. Army captain's leadership on the battlefield. Monken led more than 100 tank combat missions in Iraq without losing soldiers or equipment, Quinn said. He also has served in Kosovo and as a recruiter for the Illinois National Guard.
The increasing role of the state police as the local liaison to the federal Department of Homeland Security makes Monken's military experience even more important, Quinn said.
Monken said not having a law-enforcement background should not affect his credibility within the state police ranks. He has not yet decided whether to wear a state police uniform.
The governor disputed suggestions that former state police Director Larry Trent, who resigned Friday, had been ousted from the post. Trent was appointed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2003.
Born in Arizona, Monken moved with his family to St. Charles in 1986. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 2002.
Meanwhile, Quinn defended his proposed tax increase, calling himself the "repairman" for the state's financial problems.
The governor's comment came as Democratic state Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan said he would support legislative efforts to streamline all levels of government -- including the consolidation of school districts -- as a method of achieving savings for taxpayers before backing Quinn's income-tax hike.
Link, a member of the Senate Democratic leadership team, said he doesn't believe some of the proposals for cost savings Quinn has outlined will satisfy a public being asked to pay more.
"We've got to look at ways that we can help people save money, directly and indirectly, and if we could do things like consolidation of schools, do other things that are going to save people money, we've got to do that so when they put their hand in their pocket, there's money there," Link said on WGN-AM 720.
Tribune reporter Rick Pearson contributed.
 
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