What are the responsibilities and job description for the Entry Level Police Officer position at Rockford Police Department?
Salary : $70,958.00 - $96,919.00 Annually
Location : Rockford, IL
Job Type : Full-Time
Job Number : 25-03
Department : Police Department
Opening Date : 01 / 24 / 2025
Closing Date : 2 / 28 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central
This is a listing for the position of a sworn police officer. The City of Rockford is looking for individuals who represent the diversity in thought and experiences, which are shared by our citizens. Candidates must have strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing. Candidates should possess good interpersonal skills, common sense and have the ability to problem solve.
Job Description
A comprehensive list of a police officer's duties is not possible, but officers working within the Rockford Police Department perform some of the following functions :
- Handle (emergency and non-emergency) calls for service received by our Communications Center.
- Investigate and determine what type or if crimes have occurred.
- Make sound decisions using, knowledge, training and experience.
- Positively interact with the public.
- Problem solve complex community issues and look for innovative solutions to reduce repeat calls for service.
- Properly enforce Federal, State and Municipal laws.
Minimum Qualifications
There are certain standards that an applicant must meet in order to become a Rockford police officer and these are summarized in this section. All qualifications are set within the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, City of Rockford Ordinances and all applicable statutes.
The Minimum Qualifications Are :
An applicant must be 21 years old by the selected academy start date-PLEASE SPEAK TO THE RECRUITER FOR THE ACTIVE DATE. The applicant cannot be 35 years old by closing date of the application period. Exceptions apply to U.S. veterans and persons previously employed as police officers within a municipality.
A valid Driver's License is required at the time of appointment to the Department.
A high school diploma (or its equivalent) is required.
An applicant must not have any felony convictions nor have been convicted of certain misdemeanors. A list of disqualifying convictions is contained in the DISQUALIFICATIONS section.
An applicant must not have ANY misdemeanor convictions within the last 3 years or have more than 3 moving violations within the last 3 years.
All applicants will participate in the Physical Fitness Assessment, explained in the TESTING INFORMATION section. Additionally, final candidates will undergo an extensive physical / medical examination.
Employees must live in Winnebago County or within fifteen (15) miles of the Public Safety Building within six (6) months of the conclusion of their probationary period. The probationary period is eighteen (18) months unless extended by the Board for performance reasons.
Disqualifications
By action of the Rockford Board of Fire and Police Commissioners the below list of specific offenses automatically disqualify anyone from being a police officer with the City of Rockford.
An applicant must not have ANY misdemeanor convictions within the last 3 years or have more than 3 moving violations within the last 3 years.
The Board's action is based upon legislation in the Illinois Compiled Statutes : 50 ILCS 705 / 6, 50 ILCS 705 / 6.1, and 65 ILCS 5 / 10-2.1-6.
If you have been convicted of any of the listed offenses you cannot be a police officer in Rockford.
CHAPTER 720 ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES
The City of Rockford offers a competitive benefits package to its Police Officers. Included in this package is :
Salary
Starting Salary $70,958
2nd Year of service $73,175
3rd Year of service $75,953
4th Year of service $81,131
5th Year of service $84,586
6-8Years of service $90,236
9-11 Years of service $95,016
12 Years of service $96,919
Holidays
A total of twelve paid holidays are provided to employees.
Vacation
A new employee will earn two weeks of vacation after the completion of their first year of employment. After that, an officer will receive two weeks vacation. Vacation will then increase to three weeks after five (5) years of service, four (4) weeks after fourteen (14) years of service, and five (5) weeks after twenty-four (24) years.
Health Insurance
The City of Rockford offers an excellent health and dental plan to all employees.
Sick Leave
Officers are provided with a liberal sick leave policy.
Uniforms
All necessary uniforms are provided to an officer at no cost. This includes all leather items and duty weapon (Smith & Wesson Military & Police Model .9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol).
Pension
Our pension plan is in accordance with the Illinois Compiled Statutes, 40 ILCS 5 / . Both the participant and the City of Rockford contribute to the pension plan.
NOTE : Many of the listed benefits are provided for in a contract between the City of Rockford and the police officers' bargaining unit (P.B.& P.A.) . They are subject to change whenever a new contract is negotiated.
For more information and updates on negotiated contractual benefits for the Rockford Police Department, please see our bargaining unit's website :
Salary : $70,958 - $96,919