Police Employment

ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Carpentersville Police Department is dedicated to preventing and solving crimes, promoting public safety, and providing the highest quality services to the public. The mission of the Carpentersville Police Department is to provide service to the community with the resources available, and to work with the community members and partners to provide residents with a safe environment and resolve quality of life issues.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for the position of Police Officer with the Carpentersville Police Department must meet the following criteria:

RESIDENCE

Applicants for examination must be citizens of the United States, permanent residents or deferred immigration status under the feral Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process and a resident of the state of Illinois. Applicants must also reside within 35 miles of the Village of Carpentersville village limits within one year of being hired.

AGE

Applicants must be a minimum age of 21 years at the time of appointment as a sworn officer. Applicants must also be under 35 years of age, subject to the age exception provisions of 65 ILCS 5/10- 2.1-6(d). To qualify for the age exception for an applicant already employed as a Police Officer, the applicant must have been employed, continuously and on a full-time basis, for the 365-day period immediately prior to the date of application.

EDUCATION

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED.

LICENSE & CERTIFICATION 

Applicants must have a valid NIPSTA card - OR - equivalent criteria as per the State standard, by the final eligibility list posting date. P.O.W.E.R. Test Cards issued by Triton College or Joliet Junior College will also be accepted.

Applicants must have a valid state-issued driver’s license.

OTHER

Applicants must be authorized under federal law to obtain, carry, or purchase or otherwise possess a firearm, no felony convictions (Note: a misdemeanor or serious traffic offense may also disqualify applicants from further consideration), and possess 20/40 corrected vision and free of colorblindness.

A maximum of (5) preference points will be awarded as determined by the Village of Carpentersville for any one the following: 

• Education: Persons who have successfully obtained an Associate's Degree in the field of law enforcement or criminal justice - OR - a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university. Copy of unofficial transcripts must be submitted with application to qualify (5 points).
• Experience: Persons who have been awarded a certificate of successful completion of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Training Course (Certified Illinois Police Officer) and are currently employed as a law enforcement officer on a part-time or full-time basis within the State of Illinois. Copy of state-issued certification must be submitted with application to qualify (5 points).
• Military: Persons who were engaged in the military or naval service of the United States for at least one year, and were honorably discharged, - OR -  who are now, or may hereafter be on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval service. A copy of Form DD-214 or equivalent proof of current military service must be submitted with application to qualify (5 points).   
• Community Service Officer:  Persons who are currently employed as a community service officer for the Village of Carpentersville and have been in that position continuously for at least one year (3 points).

APPLICATION PROCESS

When the eligibility list is being developed and applications are being accepted, applications are electronically submitted through ApplyToServe.

PHASE 1: Submit Application
Applicants must complete and electronically submit all application materials by an established deadline. The application fee is being waived for all applicants.

At minimum, candidates are required to submit copies of the following documents as part of their application:

• Valid state-issued driver's license;
• Birth Certificate;
• High school diploma or G.E. D. equivalent;
• Candidates requesting preference points must submit documentation at this time.

PHASE 2: Written Examination
Following completion of all application materials and review of minimum qualifications, successful applicants will be invited to participate in remote on-line written exam testing starting at 9 AM on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 through Thursday, January 19, 2024 at 4 PM. 

PHASE 3: Oral Interview
The applicants with the top 30 scores on the written exam will be invited to sit for an oral interview with the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. Applicants will be notified of their eligibility to proceed to this step approximately one week prior to the interview process.

PHASE 4: Development of Eligibility List
All applicants successfully passing the written examination and oral interview shall be placed on an Initial Eligibility List. Preference Points will then be tabulated for eligible applicants who submitted documentation requesting preference points during the application process, for a Final Eligibility List which will be valid for two years from its establishment. From this Final Eligibility List, applicants shall be appointed in descending order if/when a job opening presents itself. Full employment will be withheld until a successful completion of the following:

• Submission of required documentation (copy of birth certificate, driver’s license, naturalization certificate if applicable, etc.);
• Background Investigation;
• Polygraph Examination;
• Psychological Examination by Licensed Clinical Psychologist;
• Medical Examination (which shall include a test of the applicant’s vision, hearing, presence of communicable diseases as well as a test to screen for the use of drugs and/or narcotics);
• Must pass pre-academy P.O.W.E.R. Test.

The selection process is estimated to take approximately 100 to 180 days from the date applications are to be turned in, until the date that the applicant is hired. In the event that an applicant fails to successfully complete the application process, they are eligible to re-apply the next time the Carpentersville Board of Police and Fire Commission initiates a new selection process.

The Village of Carpentersville is an equal opportunity employer in all aspects of personnel policies, programs, benefits, practices and operations. All applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other category protected by law.  If you are an individual with a disability and require assistance or accommodation related to the application process, please contact human resources.