Accepting Applications for Entry Level Police

Now Hiring: Police Officer

Forest Park Police Department, Forest Park, Illinois The Board of Police and Fire Commissioners of the Village of Forest Park, Illinois is accepting applications for the position of police officer with the Forest Park Police Department.

Key Dates

Application deadline	Monday, December 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM (CST)
Online written exam window	Wednesday, January 6, 2027 at 9:00 AM through Friday, January 8, 2027 at 4:00 PM
Application fee	$25.00 (non-refundable)

Salary and Benefits

• • Starting salary: $78,546.00

• • After 7 years: $116,679.18 (as of May 1, 2026)

• • Paid holidays: 88 hours per year after one year

• • Vacation: 2 weeks after one year, plus 2 personal days

• • Education reimbursement: available after probation for continuing criminal justice education degrees

• • Annual education stipend: $500 (Associate’s), $1,000 (Bachelor’s), $1,500 (Master’s)

About the Department

• • Population served: 15,000

• • Sworn police officers: 38

Minimum Requirements

All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements established by the Village of Forest Park.

Eligibility

• • U.S. citizenship

• • No felony convictions (a misdemeanor or serious traffic offense may also disqualify applicants from further consideration)

• • Valid state-issued driver’s license

• • Resident of the state of Illinois

• • At least 21 years of age and under the age of 35 by the application deadline (December 21, 2026), unless exempt under Section 5/10-2.1-6 of the Fire and Police Commissioners Act

Education and Experience

• • High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent

• • At the time of hire, one of the following:
    • • A minimum of 60 credit hours from an accredited college, university, or junior college (official transcripts will be required at the background investigation stage)
    • • One year of active military or naval service, documented by an honorable discharge
    • • Current certification as a police officer in the State of Illinois

Testing and Screening

• • Successfully complete an oral interview

• • Successfully complete a background investigation (applicants must fully disclose all personnel matters, including agreements and sealed files)

• • Successfully complete a psychological evaluation, polygraph examination, and medical physical (including drug and alcohol screening)

• • Pass the POWER Test administered by a Basic Law Enforcement Police Academy prior to enrollment in the Academy

Application Process

• • Pay a $25.00 non-refundable application processing fee

• • Submit your application online no later than Monday, December 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM (CST)

• • Complete the mandatory online written examination, available from Wednesday, January 6, 2027 at 9:00 AM through Friday, January 8, 2027 at 4:00 PM

Preference Points

Preference points will be awarded as determined by the Village of Forest Park for the following:

• • Military: Persons who served in the military or naval service of the United States for at least one year and were honorably discharged. A copy of Form DD-214 (indicating status of discharge) must be submitted with the application to qualify.

• • Education: An Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or a related law enforcement field from an accredited community or junior college, or a Bachelor’s Degree in any field from an accredited college or university. A copy of the diploma and/or official transcripts must be submitted when requested to qualify.

• • Current Illinois Law Enforcement Officers: Persons awarded a certificate attesting to successful completion of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Training Course as provided in the Illinois Police Training Act. A copy of the certificate must be submitted with the application to qualify.

How to Apply

To apply for this position or get more information, visit ApplyToServe.

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The Village of Forest Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the continuing policy of the Forest Park Police Department to afford equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability, and to conform to applicable laws and regulations. Equal opportunity encompasses all aspects of employment practices, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, and discipline.