Salary : $70,958.00 - $96,919.00 Annually
Location : Rockford, IL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: Lateral 2026
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 01/14/2026
Closing Date: 12/1/2026 11:59 PM Central
The City of Rockford Police Department has established its lateral entry program for qualified sworn police officers. The department is looking for individuals who represent the diversity of thought and experiences that are shared by our citizens. Candidates must have strong verbal communication, interpersonal and writing skills, and should possess common sense and problem-solving ability.
The Rockford Police Department lateral entry program includes training and orientation which consists of in-house city school for up to seven weeks depending on experience. Training will be conducted with respect to your current status as an experienced police officer.
Rockford Police lateral candidates must meet all of the requirements for entry- level Rockford Police Officer and must possess a valid Illinois Law Enforcement Officer certificate from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Lateral candidates must complete all testing deemed necessary by the Rockford Fire and Police Commission. The Department will take out of State Lateral Officers as well. Must meet all the same standards
A newly hired individual that is certified as a law enforcement officer shall be paid the appropriate Pay Step for previous years of law enforcement service up to a maximum of five (5) years. Starting pay is $73,175-$84,586.
Job DescriptionA 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 which are summarized in this section. All qualifications for lateral police officers are set within the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, City of Rockford Ordinances Section 2.29 and all applicable statutes. Please visit rpdwantsyou.com for a complete list of qualifications and disqualifications.
2.1A LATERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The Police Department will accept lateral applicants for original appointment who satisfy all of the requirements set forth in the Act, these Rules and Regulations and as follows:
(a) At the time of application, a lateral applicant must:
(i) be employed currently or have been employed within the preceding twelve (12) months as a certified full-time officer with an Illinois law enforcement agency; or
(ii) be employed currently or have been employed within the preceding twelve (12) months as a certified full-time police officer with an out-of-state municipal, county, or state law enforcement agency, provided that such an out-of-state lateral applicant also must meet the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board "Out of State Reciprocity" requirements as in effect from time to time.
(b) Applicants must have a certificate attesting to their completion of the minimum standards basic law enforcement training course, as provided in the Illinois Police Training Act. Proof of certification is required with application and will be subject to the final approval by Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
(c) Applicants must provide/attach a copy of their professional resume will be emailed to the recruiter at Recruiter@rockfordil.gov
Lateral applicants who are granted original appointment by the Commission shall be entitled to recognition for applicable previous law enforcement service as determined by the Police Department.
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 STATUTESIndecent 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:
