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The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Joliet, Illinois, is accepting applications for the position of Entry-Level and Certified Police Officer with the Joliet Police Department. The Joliet Police Department is looking for dedicated men and women who want to make a difference in their community. Two eligibility lists will be established; applicants will only be named on one list. Certified Police Officer applicants who meet the requirements must declare which list they are applying for. All applicants must complete the same written and oral assessment to establish a numerical ranking for each list.

For more information regarding the rules and regulations of the Board of Fire and Police, refer to Boards and Commissions.

The Joliet Police Department is the fourth largest city in Illinois and is considered the “City of Champions.” The Joliet Police Department provides exceptional professional police service to our community and is committed to the safety of all our residents, businesses, and those who visit our city.

Salary: $57,670 (Starting Salary 2023)
Population: 150,000
Sworn Police Officers: 286

Salary:

• $58,823 (Starting Salary January 2024)
• Step B $78,637
• Step C $96,015
• Step D $100,889
• Top step $122,590

Benefits include:

• Competitive medical, dental & vision insurance
• Insurance rates locked in until 2030
• Police pension program

 Additional benefits and perks include:

•  Monthly vacation and sick time accruals
• 12-hour shifts (every other Friday, Saturday, Sunday off)
• Equipment and training paid for
• Four floating holidays per year
• Annual Holiday Stipend (dependent on pay step, pensionable)
• Court Stipend of $2100 (pensionable)
• Tuition reimbursement (Undergraduate and/or Graduate degree)
• Allowed to accumulate 480 hours of compensatory time
• Dedicated fitness location for all City of Joliet employees

THE CITY OF JOLIET HAS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT IN PLACE: All new employees must reside within the City of Joliet/City limits within 18 months from the date of hire.

All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements established by the City of Joliet:

• Minimum of 20 years of age at the time of application -AND- UNDER 35 years of age at the time of job appointment. Unless exempt from age limitations as provided in 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6 (examinations of applicants, disqualifications). Applicants who are 20 years of age by the date of the application deadline shall be eligible to take the initial examination but will not be eligible for appointment (and shall be passed over) until such time as the Applicant reaches 21 years of age. Proof of birth date will be required at the time of application.
• All applicants for examination must be citizens of the United States and/or permanent residents.
• No felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude convictions.
• Possess a valid state-issued driver's license with good driving record (this will be required as proof of ID at all stages).
• Registered with selective services.
• High school graduate -OR- GED equivalent.
• Must have 20/20 vision (or corrected 20/20 vision) -AND- cannot be color blind.
• Must meet the requirements of a thorough background investigation and pass a psychological test, polygraph, medical, vision, and drug testing.
• All candidates must submit their valid P.O.W.E.R. Test card with a date that does not exceed 12 months before the application deadline. The card must be provided before the Background Investigation is conducted and can be submitted to the assigned Detective. Applicants can also submit their P.O.W.E.R. Test card during the initial application process if they choose to. This requirement will apply to all Certified Law Enforcement applicants. In addition, applicants who are required to attend the police academy will be required to pass a subsequent P.O.W.E.R. test before they begin the police academy. The Joliet Police Department utilizes the Police Training Institute (PTI) and Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA).
  • Only P.O.W.E.R. Test Cards issued by NIPSTA, Triton College, or Joliet Junior College will be accepted.
• All applicants must successfully complete an online written examination starting Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 9:00 AM through Friday, November 10, 2023 at 4:00 PM. Candidates scoring in the top tier will progress to the oral board interview.
• Pay a $25.00 non-refundable application processing fee.

Certified Police Officers must meet the following requirements:

• Must have been previously or are currently employed as a sworn full-time officer of a Police Department in any municipality, county, University, or State Law Enforcement agency for at least two years.
• Successfully completed the minimum standard basic law enforcement course required by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board or is eligible to receive certification through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board if certified as a full-time police officer in another state. A certificate must be submitted during the application process.
• Successfully completed their probationary period and are/were in good standing with their agency.
• All Certified Police Applicants shall be under 39 years of age to be appointed. If the applicant becomes over age during the application process or while on the Certified Police Officer (Lateral Transfer List), they shall not be allowed to continue with the application process, shall not be appointed, and their name shall be immediately stricken from the list.
• Must complete the department Field Training Program, which lasts approximately four months.

All Applicants Must Meet the Requirements of the Joliet Police Department Tattoo and Body Art Policy:

• No tattoos, body art, or brands will be on the head, face, scalp, neck, or hands from the wrists to the fingertips. The area of the neck for the purpose of this standard is any portion visible while wearing a crew neck t-shirt. The area of the wrists to the fingertips for the purpose of this standard is any portion visible while wearing a sleeved shirt.
• Any visible tattoos/body art/brands considered obscene, sexually explicit, and/or advocate discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin are prohibited. Tattoos/body art/brands that symbolize affiliation with gangs, supremacist or extremist groups, or those that advocate illegal drug use are prohibited.
• Department members are prohibited from body ornamentation, intentional body mutilation, piercing, branding, or intentional scarring. Examples of prohibited mutilation include but are not limited to split or forked tongues, foreign objects inserted under the skin to create a design or pattern, enlarged or stretched-out holes in the ears, and any intentional scarring that is visible.

Preference Points will be awarded as determined by the City of Joliet for the following, up to a maximum of ten (10) points total. Valid documentation will be required and submitted at the time of application to qualify. This will only apply to applicants who are not—considered certified police officers.

• Military Veterans: 5 points Persons who were engaged in the active military or naval service of the United States for a period of at least one year and who were honorably discharged from there, or who are now or may hereafter be on inactive reserve duty in such military or naval service, not including persons who were convicted by court-martial of disobedience of orders, where such disobedience consisted of the refusal to perform military service on the grounds of religious or conscientious objections against war, shall be awarded five (5) preference points (evidenced by submittal of DD-214);
• Education: 2 points Bachelor’s degree in any major -OR- associate degree in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement from an accredited college or university.
• Prior Illinois-Certified Law Enforcement Experience: 2 points Persons who have been awarded and provide a certificate attesting to the successful completion of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Training course - AND - are currently serving as a law enforcement officer on a full-time basis within the State of Illinois. If two separate eligibility lists are created, this will not apply to certified law enforcement officers.
• Bilingual Skills: 2 points Spanish/English - Applicants must demonstrate proficiency (oral and listening) in an eligible language set forth by the Fire and Police Commission determined by a threshold of 5% of the City of Joliet (Spanish) population. The applicant must pay for and pass a test that the City of Joliet will provide. Applicants on the Certified Officer List will NOT be eligible for these points.
• Joliet Police Cadet Experience: 2 points Persons who have previously participated in the Joliet Police Department cadet program.

Preference points are available to Certified Lateral officers with valid documentation and submittal.

• Military Veterans: 5 points Persons who were engaged in the active military or naval service of the United States for a period of at least one year and who were honorably discharged from there, or who are now or may hereafter be on inactive reserve duty in such military or naval service, not including persons who were convicted by court-martial of disobedience of orders, where such disobedience consisted of the refusal to perform military service on the grounds of religious or conscientious objections against war, shall be awarded five (5) preference points (evidenced by submittal of DD-214);
• Education: 2 points Bachelor’s degree in any major -OR- associate degree in criminal justice or law Enforcement from an accredited college or university.

Submission of Application

Applications MUST be submitted online by Friday, October 27, 2023 at 4:00 PM (CST). Faxed, e-mailed, mailed or dropped off applications will NOT be accepted. Applications submitted after the deadline will NOT be accepted. Only one application per person, per testing cycle will be accepted.

To apply for this position or obtain additional information, please visit the following website: Apply To Serve.

The City of Joliet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.