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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Police Officer

Chicago Police Department

The City of Chicago is currently seeking qualified Police Officer candidates for the Chicago Police Department's (CPD) upcoming 2026 academy classes. Chicago has the second-largest Police Department in the nation, with over 12,000 officers dedicated to protecting the lives, property, and rights of all people. We accomplish this through professionalism, innovation, and a progressive approach to community relational policing.

To provide candidates with the most flexibility, The City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department will be offering online computer-based testing options. You can take the exam at testing centers throughout the nation or even from your home.

Officers receive a competitive starting salary of $63,636 that increases to $95,982 annually after just 18 months. Benefits include regularly scheduled salary increases, city-subsidized medical and dental insurance, holidays, tuition reimbursement, retirement savings and pension plans.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html
For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at: https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

Officers have lateral and promotional opportunities in numerous divisions within the department in the areas of investigations, technology, forensics, community relations, youth investigations, bomb, SWAT, Marine and Helicopter, and many more. Regardless of the assignment, you will work in an environment that fosters leadership, teamwork, and service to the community. You will have the freedom to shape your career as well as the camaraderie of being part of a world class team of law enforcement professionals. CPD is a department that prides itself on professionalism, community-oriented policing, technology, and intelligence-led crime reduction efforts. You will have access to continuous opportunities for training and advancement throughout your career.

No prior law enforcement experience is required to join. Upon employment, you will attend our 6-month paid police academy which will prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career.

The Chicago Police Department is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and looks for candidates that reflect our communities' broad cross-sections. We are seeking effective problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and good communicators with the ability to interact with all members of the community and perform the role safely, effectively, and following local, state, and federal law as well as CPD policy and procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Police officers are responsible for collaborating closely with the community to preserve peace and promote public safety. Police officers work for citizens' benefit by protecting life and property from harm and maintaining order. The police officer accomplishes this mission through his or her presence and the enforcement of Federal, State, and Municipal laws as necessary.
Essential duties of the position include:
* Builds community trust and confidence through day-to-day interactions with members of the community.
* Works to resolve conflicts through effective communication.
* Communicates effectively with people from various social and cultural backgrounds in a wide range of situations.
* Monitors environment and crime conditions of an assigned geographic area using routine patrol methods.
* Responds to incidents either assigned or observed as required.
* Gathers relevant information at an incident to conduct a preliminary investigation.
* Ensure any personal property taken into custody is documented correctly and secured.
* Seeks to apprehend suspected violators of the law using arrest procedures or citation procedures.
* Actively pursues suspected law violators using search and containment methods.
* Processes suspected law violators using arrest and booking procedures.
* Enforces state and municipal traffic laws using arrest procedures and citation procedures.
* Gathers information at traffic crash scenes to conduct preliminary investigations.
* Uses hand signals to direct traffic as necessary around accidents, objects on the road, or intersections when traffic signals are not working.
* Complies with Department rules, regulations, policies, and all Federal, State, and Municipal laws that govern police officers' activities.
* Appears in court and presents testimony.
* Performs the role safely, effectively, and following local, state, and federal law as well as CPD policy and procedures.
* Perform other duties as required.
NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive. There may be other duties that are essential to this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

* To apply, applicants must be 20 years of age. The exam administrator will verify age at the time of the written exam. Candidates who have not reached the age of 20 will not be allowed to take the written examination.

* However, candidates cannot enter the Police Academy until they reach the age of 21. If you reach your 40th birthday at any point in the hiring process before entering the Police Academy, you will be disqualified.

* Pursuant to the Municipal Code of Chicago 2-152-410, the City appoints no person after the person's 40th birthday to a probationary Police Officer position.

* At the time of entry into the Police Academy, candidates must meet the minimum education and/or military requirements listed below.

* EDUCATION/MILITARY SERVICE: At the time of entry into the police academy, applicants must have at least 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university (Documentation Required). Educational requirement may be waived if applicant has:
- Served two (2) consecutive years (24 months) on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and received an Honorable Discharge (Documentation Required), OR
-Completed at least 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university AND has served one (1) continuous year on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States (Documentation Required), OR
-At least two (2) years of full-time employment as a peace officer, OR
-At least three (3) years of full-time employment as a correctional officer within the last 4 years, OR
-At least three (3) years of full-time employment as a detention officer within the last 4 years, OR
-At least three (3) years of full-time employment as a licensed professional security or private security contractor within the last 4 years, OR
-At least three (3) years of full-time employment working in the professional trade industry within the last 4 years, OR
-At least three (3) years of full-time employment in the last four (4) years providing paraprofessional work experience to the public or community in one of the following fields: social services, health care services, and/or education OR -Successful completion of the City Colleges of Chicago Pathway to Policing program

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

• Per Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, recruits participating at a full-time academy must be fully vaccinated at the time their academy class is to start.

• You must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident at the time of entry to the Police Academy.

• Residency Requirement: All employees of the City must be actual residents of the City as outlined in 2-152-050 of the City Chicago Municipal Code. You must be a resident in the City of Chicago at the time of entry to the Police Academy.

• Must have a valid State of Illinois driver's license at the time of entry to the Police Academy.

• Must have a Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card issued by the State of Illinois at the time of entry to the Police Academy.

• Must maintain the ability to safely handle and use a department approved firearm

• Must successfully pass all examinations mandated by State Law to receive certification as a Peace Officer

• Must successfully complete academy training program

• Must pass a background investigation and all required pre-employment procedures and processes as required by the Chicago Police Department.

APPLICATION PERIOD

* Monday, April 27, 2026, 12:01 AM (00:01) Central Standard Time (CST) through Thursday, December 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM (23:59) Central Standard Time (CST).

* Initial evaluation of your application will be based on information provided on the application form and documents submitted with this application. The individual applicant must submit applications. The City will not accept second party applications.

* It is the applicant's responsibility to keep all contact information, including email address, updated with the City of Chicago through their CAREERS account.

PREFERENCES

The City of Chicago may grant preference in processing to qualified applicants who meet the criteria, providing the preference is not superseded by collective bargaining agreement. Failure to answer the question AND attach the required documentation will result in the candidate not being considered for any preference listed below: