POLICE OFFICER

Every two years, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners conducts testing for the position of police officer.  Following the testing process, successful candidates are placed on an eligibility list from which they are hired from when an opening arises.  This eligibility list is valid for two years or until the list is exhausted, whichever is sooner.

We are often asked, "What can I do to prepare myself for a career as a police officer"?  In Illinois, you must be 21 years of age to be a police officer and cannot have reached your 35th birthday (for municipal non-home rule departments).  Therefore if you are under 21 years of age, it is strongly suggested that you obtain a minimum of a two-year college degree in a field of Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice.  Many departments require a degree to be hired we currently do not.  Even if a department does not require it, you can be given preference points during the testing process if you have an Associates Degree in a Law Enforcement related field. 

Once in the field of Law Enforcement, many supervisory positions either require or it is preferred that you have a Bachelor's Degree. It is therefore recommended that whenever possible, you concentrate on a college degree once out of high school before entering Law Enforcement.

Additional requirements include:

• No Felony conviction or Misdemeanor convictions for crimes of moral turpitude,
• Valid drivers license,
• United States Citizen
• Good physical condition
• 20/20 corrected vision with no color blindness,
• High School graduate or GED,
• Residency requirement of fifteen miles from city limits after completion of a one year probationary period.

If you have further questions on the testing process or requirements for a position in the Rochelle Police Department, you may contact Police Chief Rob Buck.

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