Police Department Employment

Applicant Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be citizens of the United States
• Be at least 21 years old by the time of appointment. Candidates who are 20 years old and have taken two years of certified law enforcement courses are eligible to test, but will not be appointed until 21 years old
• Be under 35 years of age, except that the age requirement shall not apply to the following: 
  • A veteran shall be allowed to exceed the maximum age provision by the number of years served on active military duty, but by no more than 10 years of active military duty
  • A person previously employed as a police officer in a regularly constituted police department of any municipality, regardless of whether the municipality is located in Illinois or in another state
  • A person who has served as an auxiliary police officer under Section 3.1-30-20 for at least 5 years and is under 40 years of age
  • A person who has served as a deputy under Section 3-6008 of the Counties Code and otherwise meets necessary training requirements
  • A person who has served as a sworn officer as a member of the Illinois Department of State Police
• Have 20/20 correctable vision

Qualification Events

Candidates will be required to successfully complete qualification events as required by the rules of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, such as a physical agility test, written examination, and oral interview, in order to be placed on the eligibility register for the position of police officer.