Entry Level Police Patrol Officer

City of Springfield

is seeking applicants for

Entry Level Police Patrol Officer

Department: Springfield Police Department

Division: City of Springfield (PARENT)

Work Location:

800 E. Monroe

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, 62701

United States

Work Hours: To be determined

Starting Rate: $82,782.60 Annually

Eligibility Requirements: Open to All Applicants

Union: Police Benevolent and Protective Association

Final Date to Apply: 10/8/2026 at 5:59 p.m.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties of a sworn officer include, but are not limited to, routine patrol, preliminary investigations, suspect apprehension and arrest, and initial processing of evidence and property.

Required Qualifications:

Citizenship & Education

• U.S. citizenship
• High school diploma or GED

Vision Standards

• With soft contacts: 20/40 or better
• With glasses or hard contacts: 20/40 or better, and when removed, no worse than 20/100
• Normal color vision or mild color blindness/mild anomalous trichromat (red-green deficiency)

Other Requirements

• Ability to meet and comply with the department's tattoo policy
• No felony convictions or disqualifying misdemeanors
• Ability to pass all required phases of the examination
• Valid driver's license at time of hire
• Valid FOID card within twelve (12) months of hire

Age Requirements

• Minimum: 21 years old (or 20 with at least 2 years of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university)
• Maximum: 34 years old, unless qualifying for one of the following exemptions under the Illinois Compiled State Statutes (65 ILCS 5):

Prior Employment Exception - In municipalities of more than 5,000 but not more than 200,000 inhabitants, individuals who have previously been employed as a firefighter or police officer in the municipality are exempt (65 ILCS 5/10-1-7). "The municipality" is defined as the City of Springfield.

Military Service Exception - Active duty military service (65 ILCS 5/10-1-12).

Informational Packets

Now available online https://www.springfield.il.us/Departments/PoliceDepartment/PoliceDefault.aspx?BecomePoliceOfficer

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• Free Health Clinic
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• 4 weeks paid parental leave
• 13 paid holidays
• 10-25 paid vacation days, based on years of service
• 12 paid sick days annually
• Tuition Reimbursement

If assistance in applying is required, please notify the Office of Human Resources at 217-789-2446 or humanresources@springfield.il.us