Charles P. Illsley was a Utah Native and a Certified Peace Office with South Salt Lake and West Valley, retiring as a Lieutenant. His law enforcement career spanned from 1976 to 2004.  Charles passed away on January 5, 2014. 

To say that Charles Illsley’s career was remarkable is to say that the Grand Canyon is nice.  Charles’ intellect and personal initiative motivated him to achieve and over-achieve throughout his adult life.  Just as one picture of the Grand Canyon does not adequately describe its majestic and enduring grandeur, this award can only scratch the surface of a diverse and distinguished career with significant contributions in every facets of law enforcement, not the least of which was in narcotics enforcement.

Born and raised in Utah, Charles overachieved from childhood.  An Eagle Scout, he was selected by the Boy Scouts of America to deliver a “Report to the Nation” to Congress.  He won many science fairs, speech competitions and debate meets.  As a member of the Folk Dancers at Brigham Young University, he toured the world and performed on several continents.  His 25+ year law enforcement career began in South Salt Lake City PD and then in West Valley City PD, as well as special assignments upon request to crime scenes across the state of Utah.  He served as West Valley City PIO for several years.  

Charles was an ardent narcotics investigator, and revolutionized and refined the process of clandestine drug lab investigation in Utah.  Charles trained himself to become an expert search warrant writer.  He once submitted a 120-page probable cause affidavit in a federal drug case.  He was an active member and regular trainer for UNOA.

He was also a gifted crime scene investigator, and an expert on fingerprint analysis and identification.  Charles also pioneered the use of high-tech tools such as alternative light source to detect blood and other unseen evidence at many crime scenes.  Charles’ crime scene talents were in high demand across the state, and he contributed his expertise to the successful prosecution of many high-profile homicide cases, including the murder of Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil Gurr in 2001.  He served as an Executive Board member of the national Clandestine Laboratory Investigators Association.  He also was an active member and served as President in 1999-2000 for the International Association for Identification, the oldest and largest forensic science association in the world.

At the time of his death, former West Valley City colleague and Layton City Chief Terry Keefe told Deseret News “Charles was probably one of the most talented law enforcement officers I have ever known in the area of undercover investigations, regular investigations, and certainly excelled even further in his expertise as it dealt with fingerprints.”

Utah Narcotic Officers Association proudly recognizes Utah Legend in Law Enforcement Detective Charles P. Illsley with this 2021 UNOA Citation of Honor.