Joliet Police Department

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE CITY OR POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY WITH QUESTIONS.
PER REQUEST OF THE CITY, ALL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO APPLICATIONS@STANARD.COM

Joliet Police Department
Joliet, Illinois

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Joliet, Illinois, is accepting applications for the position of Certified Police Officer with the Joliet Police Department. The Joliet Police Department is seeking dedicated individuals who want to make a positive impact in their community. To be considered eligible, an applicant must meet the minimum requirement of two (2) years as a full-time sworn law enforcement officer with their respective law enforcement agency. Applicants are required to complete a written and an oral assessment to establish a numerical ranking list.

The Joliet Police Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the state of Illinois and Joliet is considered the “City of Champions.” Our agency is committed to providing exceptional professional police service to our community and the safety of all residents, businesses, and visitors. The mission statement of the Joliet Police Department is “WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR A SAFE CITY.”

Population: 150,362
Sworn Police Officers: Authorized strength of 300 officers

2025 starting base salary: $99,135, up to $104,168 (certified officers may be placed in the salary step based on their years of service, with a maximum credit of 3 years placement at step D).  

2025 starting base salary (additional stipends are pensionable):

• Step C $99,135 (additional stipends up to $5790 prorated based on the date of hire)
• Step D $104,168 (additional stipends up to $5989 prorated based on the date of hire)

2026 starting base salary 

• Step C $102,357 (additional stipends up to $5910 prorated based on the date of hire)
• Step D $107,553 (additional stipends up to $ 6116 prorated based on the date of hire)

The City of Joliet offers full-time police officers an outstanding benefits package that includes:

• Insurance program with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois
• Insurance rates secured until 2030, including retirees
• Police pension program

Additional perks:

• Officers earn vacation and sick leave monthly.
• 12-hour patrol officer shifts (every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off).
• Officers earn four floating holidays that must be used within the calendar year.
• Uniforms, equipment, duty weapon, flashlight, and all training paid for by the City of Joliet.
• Holiday and court stipends are paid in January and are pensionable.
• Annual $200 preventative wellness reimbursement check.
• Tuition reimbursement (Undergraduate and or Graduate degree).
• Allowed to accumulate up to 480 hours of compensatory time.
• Dedicated fitness facility for all City of Joliet employees.
• Promotional opportunities to the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Chief, and Chief.
• Various specialized units such as Crime Scene Technicians, Tactical, Traffic Units, Neighborhood Organized Policing Teams, School Resource officers, Special Operations Squads, Crisis Negotiator Teams, Investigations, and more.

THE CITY OF JOLIET HAS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT IN PLACE:  All new employees must reside within the corporate limits of the City of Joliet or within 50 miles of the intersection of Essington Road and Jefferson Street within 18 months of the date of hire.  

All  Certified Lateral Transfer applicants must meet the following minimum requirements established by the City of Joliet:

• All applicants for examination must be citizens of the United States and/or permanent residents.
• You must possess a valid state-issued driver's license with good driving record (this will be required as proof of ID at all stages).
• High school graduate -OR- GED equivalent.
• All applicants must provide proof of completion of the P.O.W.E.R. test administered by NIPSTA, Triton College, or Joliet Junior College prior to the posting of the Final Eligibility Register.
  • Proof of the POWER test may be provided during the initial application process but must be submitted no later than the Final Eligibility Register list posting. To be considered valid, a POWER test card must be dated within 12 months of the written examination date (November 15, 2025).  Failure by any applicant to complete or pass any tests according to BOFPC shall be eliminated from further consideration.
  • Only P.O.W.E.R. Test administered by NIPSTA, Triton College, or Joliet Junior College will be accepted: https://www.nipsta.org/206/Schedule-Registration, http://www.triton.edu/power, https://www.jjc.edu/about-jjc/places-interest/power-testing
• All applicants must have completed the minimum standard basic law enforcement course required by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board or is eligible to receive certification through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board if certified as a full-time police officer in another state. A certificate must be submitted during the application process.
• Must have been previously or is currently employed as a sworn full-time officer with a Police Department in any municipality, county, University, or State Law Enforcement agency for at least two years.
• Must have completed their probationary period and are/were in good standing with their agency. 
• All Certified Lateral Transfer Police Applicants shall be under 39 years of age to be appointed. If the applicant becomes over age during the application process or while on the Lateral Transfer List, they shall not be allowed to continue with the application process, not be appointed, and their name shall be immediately stricken from the list.
• No felony convictions or any misdemeanors involving moral turpitude.
• Registered with the Selective Services System.
• Must have 20/20 vision (or corrected 20/20 vision) -AND- cannot be color blind.
• Must meet all requirements, including a thorough background investigation, and successfully pass a psychological test, polygraph, medical, vision, and drug testing. 
• Must complete the department Field Training Program.  The probationary period for all police officers shall be a period of eighteen (18) months from the date of hire.
• All applicants must successfully complete an written examination on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Candidates scoring in the top tier will progress to the oral board interview.
• Pay a $25.00 non-refundable application processing fee. 

All Applicants Must Meet the Requirements of the Joliet Police Department Tattoo and Body Art Policy:

• No tattoos, body art, or brands will be on the head, face, scalp, neck, or hands from the wrists to the fingertips. The area of the neck for the purpose of this standard is any portion visible while wearing a crew neck t-shirt.  The area of the wrists to the fingertips for the purpose of this standard is any portion visible while wearing a sleeved shirt. 
• Any visible tattoos/body art/brands considered obscene, sexually explicit, and/or advocate discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin are prohibited. Tattoos/body art/brands that symbolize affiliation with gangs, supremacist or extremist groups, or those that advocate illegal drug use are prohibited. 
• Department members are prohibited from body ornamentation, intentional body mutilation, piercing, branding, or intentional scarring.  Examples of prohibited mutilation include but are not limited to split or forked tongues, foreign objects inserted under the skin to create a design or pattern, enlarged or stretched-out holes in the ears, and any intentional scarring that is visible.  

Preference Points will be awarded as determined by the City of Joliet for the following, up to a maximum of ten (10) points total. Valid documentation must be submitted at the time of application to qualify. 

• Military Veterans: 5 points Persons who were engaged in the military service of the United States for a period of at least one (1) year of active duty and who were honorably discharged therefrom, or who are now or have been members on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval service, not including persons who were convicted by court-martial of disobedience of orders, where such disobedience consisted of the refusal to perform military service on grounds of religious or conscientious objections against war, shall be awarded five (5) preference points. Proof of such military service must include a copy of the most current DD-214 (long form) as proof of active military service and evidence of the honorable discharge.  Up to 5 additional preference points may be awarded for unique categories based on an applicant's experience or background as identified by the commission.
• Education: 2 points bachelor’s degree in any major -OR- associate degree in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement from an accredited college or university.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Preference: Applicants who successfully complete the Joliet Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training program and who maintain at least 75% attendance at monthly CERT training sessions (a minimum of nine training sessions per year) for a duration of two (2) years, and participate in one (1) CERT event per year, shall be awarded one (1) point. Proof of CERT compliance must be confirmed by the City of Joliet Director of the Office of Emergency & Disaster Management.
• Bilingual Skills: 2 points Spanish/English - Applicants must demonstrate proficiency (oral and listening) in an eligible language set forth by the Fire and Police Commission, determined by a threshold of 5% of the City of Joliet (Spanish) population. The applicant must pay for and pass a test facilitated by the City of Joliet.  

Submission of Application

Applications MUST be submitted online by Monday, November 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM (CST).  Faxed, e-mailed, mailed or dropped off applications will NOT be accepted. Applications submitted after the deadline will NOT be accepted. Only one application per person, per testing cycle will be accepted. 

Mandatory Orientation and Written Examination Testing:  Following completion of all application materials and review of minimum qualifications, successful applicants will be invited to attend the following.  Clear your calendar and make sure you are available on the following date:  

Mandatory Orientation and Written Exam: Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the Joliet Police Department Community Room, 150 W. Washington St, Joliet, IL 60432

Please be advised all candidates will receive an email approximately one week prior regarding their eligibility to continue in the process and specific information pertaining to the testing location and start time. NOTE: Please be sure to check your email spam folder. Many email account providers automatically send our emails there in error (i.e. Google, Yahoo, etc.).   

For more information regarding the rules and regulations of the Board of Fire and Police, refer to www.cityofjoliet.info.

The City of Joliet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.