CENTRALIA — The City of Centralia has approved an agreement with the Illinois State Police to locate their new investigations headquarters at the Centralia Police Department.

According to Police Chief Greg Dodson, ISP Zone 7 North Investigations will be located in the space formerly utilized by the City administration.

Dodson says they will have five investigators assigned in Centralia, including one master-sergeant, one sergeant and three agents.

They will be responsible for investigations in Bond, Marion, Clinton and Fayette counties. Prior to the change, Zone 7 comprised 31 counties and geographically almost the southern fourth of the state

Dodson calls the move a big win for not only the Centralia community but also for the surrounding area. He explained that having The New Zone 7 North headquarters based here in Centralia will provide a higher-level of ISP focus and attention to the criminal activity in the region.

He says that previously, Centralia straddled the border of two ISP zones and currently sets on the corners of ISP Patrol District 11, 12 and 13.

The change, he says, can’t help but focus the efforts of the five investigators on the problems in our area and the move will potentially provide five additional officers to the community in an emergency or major event.