Chicago Police Department Hiring, City Launches Recruitment Campaign

Evan F. Moore | As of Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy this week announced that the city is accepting applications to join the Chicago Police Department for the first time since 2013.

The starting salary for Chicago police officers is $47,604 and increases to $72,510 after eighteen months of employment. The application period is now open, and will close at the end of the day on Wednesday December 16, 2015. A written exam will be administered in February 2016 to those who apply.

The announcement was made prior to the quarterly meeting of the Mayor’s Commission for a Safer Chicago, which brings together over 130 City staff, community and faith leaders, practitioners, subject matter experts, parents, and youth, to provide tangible solutions to address youth violence.

“I’m excited that we are again offering residents the opportunity to join the police department, for a rewarding career of service to Chicago’s communities,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This effort will not only help ensure our Department remains fully staffed as we work to fight gun violence, but will also help ensure that the makeup of the force better reflects the makeup of our city.”

As part of the effort, CPD is also launching a campaign to increase minority participation in the written exam, and ultimately continue the department’s effort to increase diversity among its rank and file. In addition to an advertising campaign, police officers will be visiting churches, schools, and community events across the city in coming weeks to promote this opportunity and the advantages of joining the police department.

Superintendent McCarthy also released a statement saying:

“I signed up to become a police officer more than 35 years ago, and it has been one of the best decisions of my life. While the work may not be glamorous, as a police officer, every day you have the opportunity to affect someone’s life for the better - to stop a crime, to comfort a victim, to bring justice to an offender, and to protect our communities. This is an incredible opportunity for people throughout Chicago. I urge those who are eligible to apply.”

The city will also increase and enhance outreach efforts to military veterans and Chicago Public School graduates, ensuring a portion of recruit classes will be comprised of successful candidates meeting these criteria. An emphasis also will be made in placing successful candidates with a parent or grandparent who was a Chicago Police Officer killed in the line of duty into recruit classes.

The minimum allowable age to apply and take the police exam is 18.

Eligibility Requirements include:

Education/ Military Experience: 60 semester hours of college credit or 36 months of continuous active duty service; or one year continuous active service with 30 semester hours college credit (required at the time of hire, not at time of application).

Valid State of Illinois Driver’s License (required at the time of hire, not at time of application)

Payment of application fee ($30.00 – fee waiver available for qualifying individuals)

Residency in the City of Chicago (required at time of employment, not required for time of application).

For more information, log on to http://home.chicagopolice.org/.

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