CITY BEGINS RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR NEW POLICE PATROL OFFICERS

for more information:
Ernie Slottag 789-2235

The City of Springfield will soon begin testing which could lead to the hiring of new Police Patrol Officers.  Potential candidates may pick up informational application packets anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Office of Human Resources, Room 309 in Municipal Center West, at Seventh and Monroe Streets.  Packet information can also be downloaded from the city’s website at http://www.springfield.il.us. Completed applications and required documentation will be accepted in the Office of Human Resources during normal business hours through September 8, 2011, at 5:00 p.m.

“We are seeking new candidates for the Springfield Police Department who will be representative of our community,” Mayor J. Michael Houston said.  “We are reaching out to minority candidates both within and outside of our community. It is important that our pool of eligible individuals includes significant minority representation and that every applicant with the potential to be a patrol officer, can be given that opportunity.”

“We will continue to work with our partners including the NAACP, the Urban League, Image of Central Illinois and other organizations,” said Robert Williams, Police Chief. “We will be spreading the word that there are tremendous opportunities in the Springfield Police Department and that everyone, especially minorities, should take advantage of this opportunity to qualify for hiring.”

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age (born on or before September 17, 1990) by either the date of the written examination.

Applicants who are 20 years of age and who have successfully completed 60 semester hours of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university may be considered for appointment to active duty with the police department. An applicant described in this subsection who is appointed to active duty shall not have power of arrest, nor shall the applicant be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she reaches 21 years of age.

Individuals will have the opportunity later in the testing process to apply for residency points. Banding will again be used as a method of categorizing individuals for selection as City employees.

ORIENTATION AND PRACTICE WRITTEN EXAM’S

• Thursday, August 18, 2011, 6:00 p.m., Lanphier High School, 1300 North 11^th Street, Springfield, IL 62702

• Saturday, August 20, 2011, 10:00 a.m., Lanphier High School, 1300 North 11^th Street, Springfield, IL 62702

• Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., International Union of Operating Engineers Local 965, 3520 E. Cook, Springfield, IL 62703

  APPLICATION DEADLINE

              Thursday, September 8, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. Applications and required documentation must be returned to the Office of Human Resources, Municipal Center West, 300 South 7^th Street, Room 309, Springfield, Illinois 62701

  WRITTEN EXAM

              Saturday, September 17, 2011, 9:30 a.m., (The Office of Human Resources reserves the right to add an additional session if needed) Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 7^th and Adams Streets, lower level in Springfield, Illinois. Sign-in will begin one hour prior to the written exam.  No late arrivals will be admitted. Photo identification is required.

  ORAL ASSESSMENT

              Monday, October 10, 2011 through Friday, October 21, 2011, (The Office of Human Resources reserves the right to add or remove dates if needed), Municipal Center West, 300 South 7^th Street, Room 309, Springfield, Illinois.

  RESIDENCY PREFERENCE POINTS

              Monday, October 10, 2011 through Friday, October 21, 2011, Anyone requesting residency points must submit their residency affidavit form along with their nine (9) consecutive months of documentation starting December 16, 2010, through September 17, 2011, only. 

  PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST

              Saturday, October 22, 2011, Physical Ability (POWER) Test at the Illinois State Police Academy, 3780 East Lake Shore Drive, Springfield, Illinois. 

  MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

  U. S Citizenship

•       No Felony Convictions or certain misdemeanors (criminal offenses
  720 ILCS 5/ Criminal Code of 1961). A cursory background check will be performed at time of application.

•      Maximum age is 34 years old (unless applicant meets the exemption below) on the date of the written examination (born on after September 17, 1976)

        If a person is placed on an eligibility list and becomes overage before he or she is appointed to a police department, the person remains eligible for appointment until the list is abolished pursuant to authorized procedures. Otherwise no person who has attained the age of 36 years shall be inducted as a member of a police department, except as otherwise provided in this division. With respect to a police department, a veteran shall be allowed to exceed the maximum age provision of this Section by the number of years served on active military duty, but by no more than 10 years of active military duty.
   

•        BIRTH CERTIFICATE

•       High School Diploma, GED (General Education Diploma), or Official High School Transcript that shows a graduation date in a sealed envelope

  LATERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
   

•       Minimum of three years experience out of the last five employed as a full time police officer in another jurisdiction whose training and experience either qualifies or would qualify the officer to become certified in the State of Illinois upon written request to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

•       Successfully pass the entry level examination as determined by the City of Springfield Civil Service Commission.

•       Satisfactory completion of all pre-employment investigations and or tests, including but not limited to psychological and medical/drug testing.

•       Does not exceed the maximum age of 34 unless previously employed as a Springfield Police Officer. If you have active military service you may exceed the maximum age according to how many years you have in the service by no more than 10 years.

  VETERAN POINTS
   

•        Five (5) additional points will be added to the final exam scores of qualified candidates in accordance with Illinois Compiled Statutes, chapter 65, section 5/10-1-16. In order to receive veteran’s points, candidates must submit a copy of all DD-214’s at the time of application.  A candidate must show a DD-214 for each period of Active Military or Naval Service of the United States. The DD-214 is the only documentation that you can submit to demonstrate active service.