OPTIONAL STUDY GUIDE
In preparation for the written exam, you can purchase a study guide.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
All applicants must be between 21 and 34 years of age at the time of hire and have successfully completed four years high school or equivalent. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license equivalent to a Class D Illinois Vehicle Operator’s License.
PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST
All police applicants are required to pass a physical ability test known as the Peace Officer Wellness Evaluation Report (P.O.W.E.R.) Test before any further consideration in the recruitment process. The P.O.W.E.R. Test includes a Sit and Reach Test, a One-Minute Sit-Up Test, a One Repetition Maximum Bench Press, and a 1.5 Mile Run. For complete details and standards for each of these tests in our New Applicant Packet.
WRITTEN EXAMINATION
Everyone who successfully passes the Physical Ability Test will then move on to take the written examination, usually immediately after the Physical Ability Test is complete. The written examination requires a minimum passing score of 70%. Applicants will be notified by email as to the outcome of their testing.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Once you have passed the written examination, based on testing scores, background investigations begin on the top thirty candidates. The background investigation consists of verification of your application material, with past employers and personal references checked at this point.
ORAL INTERVIEW
The top thirty candidates are provided with an oral interview before the Police and Fire Commission at a date and time to be determined. This Commission, along with the Police Chief, ask a series of questions in order to properly evaluate and grade each candidate. Candidates failing to secure a minimum grade of 70% are automatically eliminated from all further consideration.
ELIGIBILITY LIST
An initial eligibility list will be prepared for candidates successfully passing all tests. The list is subject to change with the addition of military preference points as provided by law. A maximum of five (5) additional points are added for veteran’s preference if the applicant has had a minimum of one (1) year of active duty in the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge. These additional points must be requested by the applicant after the initial list is posted. The Commissioners will prepare a Final Eligibility List based upon the application of any preference points added to the original weighted score of the applicants. The Final Eligibility List contains all successful candidates in order of their total score. The list remains in effect for a two-year period, or until exhausted.
CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
At the time a vacancy occurs, a candidate is made a conditional offer of employment and must then successfully complete a thorough medical examination, a spinal examination, vision and hearing examination, a drug screen, and a psychological examination conducted by a qualified psychologist. Once all these conditions have been met, the candidate will be given a hire date and be assigned to a date to attend a police academy.
THE POLICE ACADEMY AND TRAINING
All new officers will attend a 16-week basic police training academy at one of several different academies throughout Illinois. Academy training provides and requires on-site housing during the week, with commuting home on the weekends. While in the academy, recruits learn criminal law statutes, the Illinois Vehicle Code, problem solving, defensive tactics, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques, emergency vehicle operation, and basic marksmanship.
After successful completion of the police academy, new officers are assigned to their first of three Field Training Officers and will spend the next approximately four months learning to properly perform basic police functions, applying department policies and procedures, becoming familiar with businesses, parks, schools, and neighborhoods, and developing their report writing skills. Each new officer will spend approximately one month on each shift before rotating back to their primary Field Training Officer in preparation for release to solo patrol.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
By the end of your probationary period (18 months) the Rock Island Police Department requires that you live within a one-hour response time of the police department. That includes both Illinois and Iowa!