Applications are not being accepted at this time.  Please click on "APPLY HERE" located above to complete a job interest card and you will be notified via e-mail when applications will be accepted.

Applications
The first step in becoming a police officer is to complete an electronic application.  Please ensure you answer all questions completely and accurately.

Applicant Requirements:
  • At least 21 years of age by application deadline date
  • Have not reached 35 by application deadline date
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Valid driver's license

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Holidays
A total of twelve paid holidays are provided to employees.

Vacation
A new employee can earn up to ten (10) days vacation during his or her 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.

Uniforms
All necessary uniforms are provided to an officer at no cost.  This includes a bullet proof vest, all leather items and duty weapon (Smith & Wesson M & P .40 calibre semi-automatic).

Pension
All Individuals who are accepted into the pension system are eligible to retire at half salary after twenty (20) years of service and they have reached age fifty (50).  The pension increases to a maximum of 75% with additional years of service.  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.

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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.

Age
An applicant must be at least 21 years old but not have reached their 35th birthday as of the closing date of the application period. This age limitation does not apply to any person previously employed as a municipal police officer.

Driver’s License
A valid Illinois Driver’s License is required at the time of appointment to the Department. 

Arrest Record
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.

Physical Condition
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.

Eyesight
Vision must be correctable to 20/20 in each eye.

Residency
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.

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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.

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.

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Convicted of any misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

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The testing process to become a Rockford police officer has several steps:

Physical Fitness Assessment
After the initial application, the next step in the testing process is the Physical Fitness Assessment.  The assessment consists of four (4) separate events.  All of the events are PASS/FAIL.

IMPORTANT
It is strongly recommended that candidates prepare for the Physical Fitness Assessment.  It is also strongly recommended that candidates obtain clearance from a competent medical authority before preparing for and/or engaging in this assessment.  

Applicants must pass each test.  A failure on any one of the four tests removes the applicant from any further testing. When a completed initial application is received by the Department, applicants are advised of when and where the Physical Fitness Assessment will take place.

Written Examination
The written test will be given on the same day as the Physical Fitness Assessment.  This test does not require a study guide.  A minimum of 70% is needed to pass the written exam.
NOTE: This exam will count for 40% of the final weighted score.

Required Documents
Applicants are required to submit the following documents (as they apply to you) to the Rockford Police Department Recruiting Unit, 420 West State Street, Rockford, IL 61101, by November 17^th, 2008 to remain in the testing process:

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NOTE: No Documents will be returned

Pre-Interview Review
The Board reserves the right to remove an applicant who has passed the written examination and physical fitness assessment from the testing process before an oral interview if the applicant’s character or employment history are unsatisfactory or if the applicant otherwise does not appear to be well qualified to discharge the duties of the position, from a review or his or her application, personality trait assessment and background information. The Board shall notify any such applicant who is removed from the testing process.

Oral Examination
Given by the City of Rockford Board of Fire and Police Commission; minimum passing score is 70%. The applicant’s written application, along with the M Pulse Inventory Test results and background information may be evaluated and considered by each commissioner in conjunction with the interview in determining the applicant’s oral examination score.
NOTE: This exam will count for 60% of the final weighted score.

Eligibility List
The Board will establish an eligibility list of applicants based on final scores. The length of the list is determined by the number of foreseen openings that will develop within the department over the life of the list. Therefore, some applicants that pass all phases of the testing process may not be included on the final eligibility list.

Background Investigation/Psychological Exam
When an opening exists and a candidate is eligible to be hired, an in-depth background investigation and psychological exam will be conducted by the Department. This investigation is advisory to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

Medical Examination
Final candidates will undergo an extensive medical examination, which includes drug, AIDS, audio and vision testing.

Military / Educational Preference
Military and Educational points shall be applied in accordance with paragraphs 10-2.1-8 and 10-2.1-9 of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Act. The preference points awarded under this Section are not cumulative, and no applicant shall receive more than a total of 5 preference points.

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Once a candidate for the Rockford Police Department is notified that an opening exists and they are the next person to be hired from the Eligibility List, they can expect the following to take place:

Physical Examination
The physical examination will be scheduled by the Department after an individual is notified an opening exists.  An extensive physical examination is required by the City of Rockford to determine fitness to perform the duties of a police officer. The State of Illinois also requires a physical examination for entry into the Police Academy.  The Pension System, an entity separate from the City of Rockford and the State Of Illinois, requires a physical examination for entry into the Pension System.

Physical Fitness Assessment
An individual placed on the final eligibility list must pass the Physical Fitness Assessment  before they can be hired. This is the same physical fitness assessment that is given at the beginning of the testing process. The test includes the 1.5 Mile Run, Sit-ups, Sit-and-Reach and the Bench Press.  Be prepared to take this test prior to or upon arrival at the police training academy.

Swearing-In
Individuals who are determined to be able to perform the duties as required by the City of Rockford and the State of Illinois are then sworn in as police officers.  At this time, the new officer begins an eighteen (18) month probationary period.

Police Training Program
The training to become a Rockford Police Officer takes approximately 40 weeks from the date of hire. This is a long period of time that is very intense, physically and mentally demanding, and at times stressful. The steps of the training process are described below.

Police Training Academy
Once hired, a new police officer will attend Basic Training at an accredited academy. There is one important note regarding this schooling: An officer must maintain a passing average at the school AND pass the Comprehensive Examination given the last week of school. Failure to pass either can result in immediate termination of employment from the Department.

Department Training
Upon completion of Basic Training, officers return to the Department for approximately 5 weeks of additional classroom and practical training.

Field Training
Upon completion of classroom training, a recruit officer will begin a period of "on-the-job" training. During this 20-week period, the officer will work with Field Training Officers, will be taught various aspects of the job, and will be evaluated regularly.

Patrol Officer
Upon successful completion of the field-training period, the officer will be assigned as a Patrol Officer. This usually means working alone, in a marked squad car, on various shifts.

Advancement
As an officer moves through his or her career with the Department, there is a potential for advancement to positions, such as Investigator or ranking positions, such as Sergeant and Lieutenant.

General Information