Police Department Employment

Applicant Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Be citizens of the United States
  • Be at least 20 years old (but shall not be appointed until reaching 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 certified 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 a certified 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 certified deputy under Section 3-6008 of the Counties Code and otherwise meets necessary training requirements
    • A person who has served as a certified sworn officer as a member of the Illinois Department of State Police
  • Have 20/20 correctable vision

Lateral Entry Program

The Commission may prepare and keep a second register of persons who have previously been full time sworn officers of a regular police department in any municipal, county, university or State law enforcement agency, provided that they are certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board (ILETSB) or persons who meet the requirements set forth by ILETSB policy for out-of-state trained reciprocity and have been with their respective law enforcement agency within the State for at least two (2) years. The persons on this register may have preference in hiring over non-certified candidates.

Lateral Entry Requirements

  • All lateral applicants must meet all the requirements of police applications for original appointment. 
  • All lateral applicants must have 2 years of continual experience with their law enforcement agency.
  • All lateral entry applicants must provide documentation to show their previous responsibilities and duties are similar to those of a Police Officer in the City of Moline. This will be accomplished through a combination of employee evaluations, past and current assignments, and training certificates. Applicants must provide documentation that they have fulfilled the requirements of the Illinois Police Training Act.
  • All lateral applicants must complete a physical agility test as prescribed by ILETSB. This standard is anticipated to be reduced by 20% in 2023 and will be the new lateral test immediately. See the Qualification Events Page for the full chart.
  • All lateral applicants must complete an oral interview with the Commissioners. 
  • All candidates must pass a background check, professional examinations and tests as well as a period of probation. 

Lateral Entry Benefits

  • Lateral officers are eligible to be paid commensurate with their full years of certified law enforcement experience.
    • As of September 2022, an officer with seven years of experience would start at $69,750 rather than the regular starting base pay of $59,834. 
    • An officer will be paid the same as an officer at Moline with the same years of experience. 
  • Lateral officers are eligible for the same generous benefit package for employees to include health insurance, pension, vacation, sick time and bonus days.
    • Moline Police Officers work a 5-2/5-3 patrol schedule.
    • Lateral officers will earn 1.65 hours of vacation for the first year and 3.04 hours of vacation in years 2-5. 
    • Officers in patrol receive one bonus day each six months in patrol.
    • Officers in patrol receive 111.54 bonus day accrued leave. 

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.