Police Officer (Entry Level)

City of Highland Park•Highland Park, IL

22h

About The Position

The City of Highland Park is hiring entry-level Police Officers for the Highland Park Police Department. The Department emphasizes professional policing, community-oriented policing, strong community partnerships, teamwork, integrity, service, proactive policing, officer development, collaboration, and community engagement. Officers serve the public while protecting life and property, responding to calls for service, enforcing laws, conducting investigations, preventing crime, and maintaining public safety. The position offers access to specialized assignments and career-development opportunities, including bicycle team, defensive tactics instructor, drone operator, evidence technician, honor guard, juvenile officer, mobile field force, peer support team, police beat coordinator, range officer, school resource officer, and task force assignments. The position requires regular and irregular shifts, including rotations to provide police services 24 hours a day, year-round. Standard shifts are eight hours and may be extended for emergencies, disasters, staffing shortages, or ongoing incidents. Officers work indoors and outdoors in varied weather and lighting conditions and may encounter hazardous environments, dangerous individuals or animals, contagious diseases, traffic hazards, and other emergency situations. The job requires operating vehicles, firearms, less-lethal weapons, office and specialized police equipment, and completing physically demanding tasks, including arrests, pursuits, emergency response, and lifting or carrying equipment and people. The 2027 salary schedule starts at $93,892.91 and increases by step with service, reaching $129,665.38 after six years. Longevity pay of an additional 2.5% to 9% of salary is available depending on total years of service. Benefits include vacation, sick leave, paid holidays and personal days, health and dental coverage, life insurance, a pension program, a wellness program and employee fitness center, and education or tuition reimbursement.

Requirements

At the first element of examination, applicants must be at least 21 and under 35 years of age. Applicants aged 20 may be considered if they have completed at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credits in law enforcement at an accredited college or university; they may not exercise arrest powers or carry firearms until age 21.
A high school diploma or equivalent, plus at least 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits from a nationally accredited college or university, or proof of four years of continuous active duty in the United States Armed Forces.
Must be a United States citizen when filing the application.
Must be physically and psychologically suited to police officer duties and maintain appropriate physical fitness.
Strong customer service, multitasking, and confidentiality skills.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn, federal, state, and local criminal laws and FOIA regulations.
Ability to follow instructions and maintain effective working relationships.
Familiarity with, or ability to learn, the City’s geography, major roads, and landmarks.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including spelling and grammar; ability to read and write English.
Ability to observe and analyze objectively, assess situations quickly, and take prompt and effective action.
Ability to understand, interpret, and apply applicable laws, ordinances, court decisions, and department and city rules and policies.
Ability to respond quickly and accurately to written and oral directions, inquiries, and requests; work independently; and communicate within and across agencies.
Ability to act calmly and decisively under stress, handle situations firmly and impartially, resolve conflicts, and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to perform physical tasks such as making arrests, subduing resisting individuals, pursuing suspects, lifting and carrying equipment and people, forcing entry, climbing, and performing life-saving procedures.
Ability to operate required equipment safely and demonstrate proficiency in the care and use of assigned firearms and less-lethal weapons.
Required application attachments: high school diploma or equivalent; valid driver’s license; certified birth record as proof of citizenship; official college/university transcripts or a DD-214 Long Form showing four years of continuous service; and a valid POWER Physical Fitness Test Card issued June 1, 2025 or later.

Responsibilities

Handle citizen complaints and observe, detect, investigate, and document violations of laws and ordinances.
Interview victims, witnesses, suspects, offenders, and other involved parties; conduct preliminary and follow-up investigations.
Identify, protect, collect, process, preserve, and document physical evidence; conduct lawful searches of people, vehicles, locations, and items.
Transport, book, care for, and escort prisoners.
Prepare complete and accurate reports, complaints, warrants, and other court documents; prepare cases for court and provide sworn testimony in legal proceedings.
Patrol assigned areas, monitor for criminal activity and safety hazards, conduct security inspections, investigate suspicious activity, and conduct field interviews as appropriate.
Maintain familiarity with patrol areas, known offenders, neighborhood routines, geographic locations, and potential problem areas.
Share information with officers, law enforcement agencies, and city departments; educate the public about crime prevention.
Conduct proactive traffic and parking enforcement, including DUI apprehension; direct and regulate vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Investigate traffic accidents, assist injured people, protect and clear scenes, determine causes, take enforcement action when required, and prepare reports and diagrams.
Respond to domestic disputes and other interpersonal or business conflicts; identify and address public hazards and quality-of-life concerns.
Assist emergency service providers and administer basic first aid, including CPR.
Investigate and document lost and found property and missing or recovered persons; enforce animal-related ordinances and respond to animal complaints.
Direct and supervise civilians and public employees at crime scenes, accidents, disasters, and public gatherings.
Assist people in distress, crime victims, and witnesses, and thoroughly handle calls for service.
Develop familiarity with community issues, engage community members, build public trust, foster positive interactions, and support the Department’s mission and values.
Attend training and maintain required skills, licenses, permits, and certifications; train personnel in areas of expertise.
Conduct background investigations and perform assigned desk duties, including telecommunications and research.
Follow safety procedures, report unsafe conditions and personal accidents, maintain a clean and hazard-free work environment, and use appropriate lifting and body-substance-isolation precautions.