Kristopher Tharp
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kris Tharp
| alt =
| caption =
| state_senate1 = Illinois
| district1 = 56th
| term_start1 = {{start date|2022|07|8}}
| term_end1 = {{end date|2023|01|11}}
| predecessor1 = Rachelle Crowe
| successor1 = Erica Harriss
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Wood River, Illinois
| death_date =
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| nationality =
| party = Democratic
| otherparty =
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| children = 2
| residence = Bethalto, Illinois
| alma_mater = {{nowrap|Lindenwood University {{small|(B.S., M.S.)}}}}
| occupation =
| profession = Police officer
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}}
Kristopher "Kris" Tharp was an American law enforcement officer and politician serving as a member of the Illinois Senate from the 56th district. He assumed office on July 8, 2022, succeeding Rachelle Crowe.{{Cite news |title=New state senator for parts of St. Clair, Madison counties talks about his top issues |url=https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article263274983.html |last=Cortes |first=Lexi |date=2022-07-08 |access-date=2022-07-10 |work=Belleville News-Democrat}}
Early life and education
Tharp was born and raised in Wood River, Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Alpert |first=Lynn |date=2022-05-23 |title=Union-represented sheriff's captain to run for Senate if Crowe is confirmed as U.S. Attorney |url=https://labortribune.com/union-represented-sheriffs-captain-to-run-for-senate-if-crowe-is-confirmed-as-u-s-attorney/ |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=The Labor Tribune |language=en-US}} He earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in criminal justice administration from Lindenwood University.{{cite web|title=Senator Kris Tharp (D) 56th District|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|access-date=July 11, 2022|url=https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=102&MemberID=3017}}
Career
Tharp began his career as a police officer in Berkeley and Overland, Missouri. He then joined the Madison County{{where|date=January 2025}} Sheriff's Office, serving as a deputy sheriff from 1999 to 2004, detective from 2004 to 2009, and sergeant from 2009 to 2011. From 2013 to 2015, he was an investigator for the Southern Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force. From 2012 to 2020, he served as a lieutenant in the Madison County Sheriff's Office. In 2019, he was appointed to serve as a member of the Illinois Elder Abuse Task Force.{{Cite web |title=Bethalto's Kris Tharp sworn in to represent Illinois 56th Senate District |url=https://www.ibjonline.com/2022/07/08/bethaltos-kris-tharp-sworn-in-to-represent-illinois-56th-senate-district/ |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=Illinois Business Journal |language=en-US}} Tharp also served as a supervisor of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis and jail administrator in the Madison County Sheriff's Office. On July 8, 2022, Tharp was appointed to succeed Rachelle Crowe in the Illinois Senate after Crowe was confirmed as a United States attorney.{{Cite web |last=Gvillo |first=Heather Isringhausen |title=Rachelle Crowe confirmed as U.S. Attorney for IL Southern District; Kris Tharp to run for state senate against Harriss |url=https://madisonrecord.com/stories/625973382-rachelle-crowe-confirmed-as-u-s-attorney-for-il-southern-district-kris-tharp-to-run-for-state-senate-against-harriss |publisher=U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform|access-date=2022-07-09 |website=Madison - St. Clair Record |language=en}}
Personal life
Tharp lives in Bethalto, Illinois, with his wife. He has two adult sons, Kameron and Tyler.{{Cite web |title=Sheriff's Office Captain Kris Tharp Sworn In To Represent 56th District As State Senator |url=https://www.riverbender.com/articles/details/sheriffs-office-captain-kris-tharp-sworn-in-to-represent-56th-district-as-state-senator-59906.cfm |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=RiverBender.com}}
References
{{Illinois Senate|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tharp, Kristopher}}
Category:American police officers
Category:Law enforcement officials from Illinois
Category:Law enforcement officials from Missouri
Category:Lindenwood University alumni
Category:People from Madison County, Illinois
Category:Democratic Party Illinois state senators
Category:People from Wood River, Illinois
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly