Entry Level-Police Officer

Salary : $70,958.00 - $96,919.00 Annually
Location : Rockford, IL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 27-02
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: 10/31/2026 11:59 PM Central

This is a listing for the position of a sworn police officer. The City of Rockford is looking for individuals who represent the diversity in thought and experiences, which are shared by our citizens. Candidates must have strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing. Candidates should possess good interpersonal skills, common sense and have the ability to problem solve.

Job Description
A comprehensive list of a police officer's duties is not possible, but officers working within the Rockford Police Department perform some of the following functions:

• Handle (emergency and non-emergency) calls for service received by our Communications Center.
• Investigate and determine what type or if crimes have occurred.
• Make sound decisions using, knowledge, training and experience.
• Positively interact with the public.
• Problem solve complex community issues and look for innovative solutions to reduce repeat calls for service.
• Properly enforce Federal, State and Municipal laws.

Minimum Qualifications

There are certain standards that an applicant must meet in order to become a Rockford police officer and these are summarized in this section. All qualifications are set within the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, City of Rockford Ordinances and all applicable statutes.
The Minimum Qualifications Are:

1. Age
   An applicant must be 21 years old by the graduation date of the academy -PLEASE SPEAK TO THE RECRUITER FOR THE ACTIVE DATE. The applicant cannot be 35 years old by closing date of the application period. Exceptions apply to U.S. veterans and persons previously employed as police officers within a municipality.
2. Driver's License
   A valid Driver's License is required at the time of appointment to the Department.
3. Education
   A high school diploma (or its equivalent) is required.
4. Arrest Record
   An applicant must not have any felony convictions nor have been convicted of certain misdemeanors. A list of disqualifying convictions is contained in the DISQUALIFICATIONS section.
5. Arrest Cont.
   An applicant must not have ANY misdemeanor convictions within the last 3 years or have more than 3 moving violations within the last 3 years.
6. If an applicant FAILED their Background Investigation or Psychological Exam, they will not be able to test for three years. The date the Failure notice was sent will be the start of the three year time frame.
7. Physical Condition
   All applicants will participate in the Physical Fitness Assessment, explained in the TESTING INFORMATION section. Additionally, final candidates will undergo an extensive physical/medical examination.
8. Residency
   Employees must live in Winnebago County or within fifteen (15) miles of the Public Safety Building within six (6) months of the conclusion of their probationary period. The probationary period is eighteen (18) months unless extended by the Board for performance reasons.

Disqualifications

By action of the Rockford Board of Fire and Police Commissioners the below list of specific offenses automatically disqualify anyone from being a police officer with the City of Rockford.

An applicant must not have ANY misdemeanor convictions within the last 3 years or have more than 3 moving violations within the last 3 years.

The Board's action is based upon legislation in the Illinois Compiled Statutes: 50 ILCS 705/6, 50 ILCS 705/6.1, and 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.

If you have been convicted of any of the listed offenses you cannot be a police officer in Rockford.

ANY Felony
CHAPTER 720 ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES

Indecent Solicitation of a Child (5/11-6)

Adultery (5/11-7)

Public Indecency (5/11-9)

Sexual Exploitation of a Child (5/11-9.1)

Prostitution (5/11-14)

Soliciting for a Prostitute (5/11-15)

Keeping a Place of Prostitution (5/11-17)

Patronizing a Prostitute (5/11-18)

Pimping (5/11-19)

Aggravated Assault (5/12-2)

Intimidation (5/12-6)

Criminal Sexual Abuse (5/12-15)

Theft (5/16-1)

Deceptive Practices (5/17-1)

Impersonating a Police Veteran/Fraternal Org. (5/17-2)

Residential Picketing (5/21.1-3)

Unlawful Use of Weapon, Subsections (1), (6), and (8) of (5/24-1)

Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Firearm Ammunition (5/24-3.1)

Defacing Identification Marks of Firearms (5/24-5)

Mob Action (5/25-1)

Keeping a Gambling Place (5/28-3)

Offering a Bribe (5/29-1)

Resisting or Obstructing a Peace Officer or Correctional Institution Employee (5/31-1)

Obstructing Justice (5/31-4)

Escape / Failure to Report (5/31-6)

Aiding Escape (5/31-7)

Compounding a Crime (5/32-1)

Perjury (5/32-2)

Subordination of Perjury (5/32-3)

Communicating with Jurors and Witnesses (5/32-4)

Harassment of Jurors or Families of Jurors (5/32-4(a))

Simulating Legal Process (5/32-7)

Tampering with Public Records (5/32-8)

Manufacture or Delivery of Cannabis (550/5)

Delivery of Cannabis on School Grounds (550/5.2)

Convicted of any misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

The City of Rockford offers a competitive benefits package to its Police Officers. Included in this package is:

Salary

Starting Salary $70,958

2nd Year of service $73,175

3rd Year of service $75,953

4th Year of service $81,131

5th Year of service $84,586

6-8Years of service $90,236

9-11 Years of service $95,016

12 Years of service $96,919

Holidays

A total of twelve paid holidays are provided to employees.
Vacation

A new employee will earn two weeks of vacation after the completion of their first year of employment. After that, an officer will receive two weeks vacation. Vacation will then increase to three weeks after five (5) years of service, four (4) weeks after fourteen (14) years of service, and five (5) weeks after twenty-four (24) years.
Health Insurance

The City of Rockford offers an excellent health and dental plan to all employees.
Sick Leave

Officers are provided with a liberal sick leave policy.

Uniforms

All necessary uniforms are provided to an officer at no cost. This includes all leather items and duty weapon (Smith & Wesson Military & Police Model .9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol).
Pension

Our pension plan is in accordance with the Illinois Compiled Statutes, 40 ILCS 5/. Both the participant and the City of Rockford contribute to the pension plan.
NOTE: Many of the listed benefits are provided for in a contract between the City of Rockford and the police officers' bargaining unit (P.B.& P.A.) . They are subject to change whenever a new contract is negotiated.

For more information and updates on negotiated contractual benefits for the Rockford Police Department, please see our bargaining unit's website:
01

Have you ever tried illegal drugs (this includes cannabis)? If yes, please name the drug and last time used.
02

Are you currently on Social Media Platforms? If yes, please provide all names. (snapchat, Instagram etc.)
Required Question