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Decatur Police Department

333 S. Franklin Street

Decatur, IL 62523

Phone: 217-424-2743 

Fax: 217-424-2766    

E-mail: mdonaker@decaturil.gov  
Website: http://www.ci.decatur.il.us/police.htm

Salary: $45,832 - $67,434  

Population: 84,000

Sworn Officers: 168    

Application Deadline: 4/10/09

To be eligible to take part in the examination process

for police patrol officer, you must possess

the following qualifications:

• Every applicant for original examination for the uniformed police, in addition to all other applicable requirement of these rules, must, at the time of such examination, be not less than twenty (20) years of age or over thirty-five (35) years of age; provided, however, that in cases where an applicant has had special training or experience in police related work, the Commission may, at its discretion, accept applicants thirty-six (36) years of age or older with one (1) year of increased age allowed for each year of training or experience.  The maximum of such age allowance shall be four (4) years.  No applicant shall be appointed to the uniformed police until the age of twenty-one (21) years. 

• No felony convictions or any disqualifying misdemeanor convictions identified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. 

• Applicant may not be prohibited by any court action and/or state or federal statute from carrying a firearm. 

• High school diploma or equivalent.  

• You MUST provide documentation showing proof of eligibility with your background packet upon completion of the physical and written testing (e.g. High School diploma, college transcript(s), DD214). 

• At time of appointment, a Police Patrol Officer must be a U.S. Citizen and must possess a valid Illinois driver's license.

• Prior to appointment, eligible applicants must be accepted for membership in the Decatur Police Pension Fund.

• Generally, applicants must be in good health, be of good moral character and not possess an adverse police record.

• Applicants should possess physical strength and agility sufficient to handle aggressive situations, be able to work under adverse weather conditions, be able to think and act quickly in emergency situations and possess good general intelligence and emotional stability.

SPECIAL NOTE** You may be required to maintain physical fitness standards throughout your career. In addition, you may be required to reimburse the City for basic recruit training if you resign within two (2) years following the date of your appointment.

In August of 1999, Governor George Ryan signed into law, a bill that would automatically decertify any Illinois police officer convicted of certain misdemeanor criminal offenses. This bill also made the conviction for any of the decertifiable offenses, automatic disqualifiers for persons wishing to pursue careers as Illinois Police Officers. This program is closely monitored by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

The Decatur Police Department performs a complete background check and criminal history on all applicants for the job of police officer with the City of Decatur. No applicant will be accepted or will be allowed to proceed through the testing procedure for police officer if there is a conviction for any disqualifying misdemeanor offense. Disqualifying misdemeanor offenses in the State of Illinois appear in Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 720.

They are:

The examination process to become a Decatur Police Officer will take approximately sixteen (16) weeks and will consist of the following:

1. Review of Qualifications: Applications will be evaluated upon receipt by the Human Resources staff. Applicants not meeting the minimum qualifications as outlined in the Qualifications Page will not be allowed to continue in the examination process. Lack of proof of education or other required documents will result in disqualification.

2. Physical Fitness Test: All applicants MUST pass a physical fitness test. You will be notified of the time and location of your physical fitness test following the review of qualifications. The physical fitness test will be conducted by the Universal Fitness Network, a company specializing in police officer physical fitness testing.

3. Written Examination: Applicants passing the physical fitness test must take a written exam.

4. Background Investigation: All applicants passing the written test will be subject to a background investigation, including fingerprinting, police records check (criminal and traffic), credit check and inquiries of neighbors, relatives, employers, etc. A conviction record may be considered on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily disqualify a candidate; however, by Illinois State Law, a felony conviction precludes appointment as a police officer.

5. Oral Interview: All applicants passing the written examination and background investigation must pass an oral interview.

6. Physical Examination: Applicants placed on the eligible register must pass a physical examination by a physician of the Commission's choice following an offer of employment. Final appointment is contingent upon passing of this physical examination. Applicants will be subject to a drug screening.

7. Psychological Exam: Applicants placed on the eligible register must pass a Psychological examination by a Psychologist of the Commission's choice following an offer of employment. Final appointment is contingent upon passing of this Psychological examination.

8. Veteran's Points: Veteran's Points: Eligible veterans may receive veteran preference points added to their final examination score in accordance with State of Illinois and City of Decatur Civil Service Laws.

The physical fitness test will include the following:

1. Sit and Reach Test: This test measures flexibility, the range of motion of a joint or group of joints.

2. One Minute Sit-up Test: This test measures muscular endurance, the ability to contract the muscle repeatedly over a period of time.

3. One Repetition Maximum Bench Press Test: This test measures muscular strength, the amount of tension a muscle can exhibit in one maximal contraction.

4. 1.5 Mile Run Test: This test measures cardiovascular endurance, the ability of the heart and vascular system to transport oxygen.

A large part of a police officer's job involves report writing, reading and interpreting divisional rules and regulations, state statutes, etc.  This written exam is designed to measure the Candidate's abilities in these areas.  The exam will be comprised of four separate sections.  Candidates must pass all four sections of the test with at least a 70% or higher score.
 

City of Decatur
Human Resources
# 1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza
Decatur, Illinois 62523
(217) 424-2805

Duties

Work involves protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances, and general police assignment including field patrol, preliminary complaint and criminal investigation, traffic control and accident investigation. Duties involve an element of personal danger and require that Police Patrol Officers act without direct supervision and exercise independent judgment in meeting emergencies.

Employees must establish residency within 40 miles of the corporate limits of Decatur, Illinois within 90 days following the completion of their probationary period. This position requires a one year probationary period.

BASE SALARY:

Patrol Officer $45,832 to $60,209

effective 05/01/08 (new contract year starting in May 2009)

LONGEVITY:

• Longevity is contractually a percentage of the base pay, based on years of service

• The longevity increases are at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service and increase the Patrol Officers salary up to $67,434 for a Patrol Officer, effective 05/01/08 (new contract year starting in May 2009)

OTHER ASSIGNMENTS:

• K-9 Patrol - 5% of base in addition to base rate & longevity

• Master Patrol - 5% in addition to base rate & longevity

• Investigations - 10% of base in addition to base rate & longevity 

SERGEANT:

• Sergeant starting base rate is $69,039 and increases to up to $73,892 after 6 months

• Longevity increases that top end pay range to $82,759

VACATIONS:

• 2 weeks after one year of service

• 3 weeks after 7 years of service

• 4 weeks after 14 years of service

• 5 weeks after 20 years of service

• 6 weeks after 25 years of service

PENSION:

• Excellent pension benefits

• Retirement at 50% of salary at age 50 with 20 years of service to a maximum of 75% of salary at 30 years

• The City contributes to the Police Pension Fund

• Police Officers also contribute at the rate of 9.91% of gross pay; Employee contributions are refundable if employment ends before retirement

• Police Officers do not contribute to Social Security; however, they contribute to Medicare at the rate of 1.45% of gross pay

OTHER:

• 13 holidays per year

• Compensatory time optional in lieu of overtime

• Hospitalization and life insurance paid by the City of Decatur for employees, with dependent coverage available

• Paid sick leave

• Optional retirement fund

• Optional flex spending fund

• Option dental coverage

• Shift differential pay for 2nd and 3rd shifts

• Uniforms provided by the City (except for weapons)

General Information

Decatur is a city located in Central Illinois, and serves as an industrial/retail center. The Decatur Police Department has an authorized strength of 164 sworn officers.   More specific information about the Decatur Police Department follows.

I. Shift Schedule: The Police Department operates on four shifts: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Shift differential is paid for hours worked between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

II. Training Program: Officers who have not yet received formal police training will be sent to a police training facility for a period as specified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Officers will be on pay status during this time. In addition, all officers must take part in the department's field training program. This program is generally 14 weeks. In addition, all officers must meet the requirement of the Use of Force Management System training program which includes mandatory direct exposure to oleoresin capsicum, periodic firearms qualification and other less than lethal training as required in the training curriculum.

III. Probation and Evaluation: There is a one year probation period for this position. Civil Service evaluations are given at five, seven, nine and twelve months. During the field training program, approximately 4-6 months in length, you are also evaluated on a daily basis by your assigned Field Training Officer and on a weekly basis by your Field Training Sergeant. Further field training program training and evaluation continues throughout your probationary period.

IV. Uniforms: Uniform clothing that is furnished by the City consists of a combination uniform car coat/jacket, rain clothing, six (6) pair of trousers or slacks, three (3) winter shirts or blouses, three (3) summer shirts or blouses, one (1) hat, a Sam Browne belt and holster and a tie.

V. Other Equipment: In addition to uniforms, the City will provide you with ammunition, Oleoresin Capsicum spray and holder, an expandable baton and holder, disposable gloves and case, handcuffs and handcuff case, riot gear, ammo pouches, two (2) magazines or two (2) speed loaders and a bulletproof vest.  Replacement bullet proof vests must be purchased by the officers and reimbursed by the city in accordance with the contract.

*  The only items that YOU MUST PURCHASE include a duty weapon and black smooth toe shoes. Optional equipment that you may purchase, at your own discretion includes brief case, report holder and ticket book holder.  The weapon must meet the Decatur Police Department specifications.

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