2026 Entry Level Police Officer (Winter)

Salary : $81,304.16 - $107,044.56 Annually
Location : Police Department - 305 S. East St., Bloomington, IL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 01034
Department: Police
Division: Police
Opening Date: 06/02/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Non-Exempt


Description
For more information, please visit the


The job of Patrol Officer is general duty police work in the protection of life and property and the enforcement of laws and ordinances. The work involves preventive patrol, preliminary investigation, traffic enforcement and regulation, and preservation of social order and public peace by means of patrolling in cars or on foot in a designated area where the officer is accountable. The delivery of service at the Police Officer level applies to the protection of life and property prevention and suppression of crime; apprehension of criminal offenders; regulation and control of traffic; recovery of lost or stolen property; and preservation and maintenance of social order and public peace.

The Patrol Officer is required to exercise a great deal of discretion concerning basic police responsibility. The Police Officer runs the risk of upsetting the delicate balance that must be maintained between the rights of individual citizens and the safety and protection of the community. It is the duty of the Patrol Officer to interpret the laws and determine which ones to enforce, and decide upon the manner in which they will be enforced within real or imagined departmental police perimeters.

The uniform force is the "backbone" of the Police Department and the focal point for all police activities. All other police services are either supportive of, or supplemental to, the patrol operation.

Examples of Duties
Some scholars claim that policing a free society is the most complex job in the world, partly because police are frequently called upon to be all things to all people. The popular culture image of a police officer does not accurately reflect the reality of policing. If you have chosen to apply, investing a few hours riding with a Bloomington Police Officer could provide a better understanding of the job. Short of that, the job tasks of a police officer may generally be found in the police officer job description of the Bloomington Police Department Rules and Regulations.

During field training, a probationary police officer's primary focus includes:

• Handling a wide range of calls for service
• Generating self-initiated activity (e.g., traffic/pedestrian stops)
• Providing enforcement activity (arrests/citations etc.)
• Maintaining public order when appropriate
• Report writing
• Evidence collection, preservation, storage
• Court room testimony

Probationary officers are frequently challenged to perform basic job tasks under varying degrees of pressure. They may be required to safely operate a motor vehicle under emergency conditions, talk on the radio to the telecommunicator and other responding officers, plan the most efficient route of travel, assess possible threats, consider the need for additional resources and make the appropriate requests in a timely manner, develop a response strategy in route while considering officer safety strategies, and adapt immediately to changing conditions or updated information. Clearly, police officers must be able to multi-task effectively to complete the probationary period and consistently perform the job functions of a competent, fully trained police officer. 4 Perhaps the most problematic issue for probationary officers unfamiliar with our community is learning the geography. We cannot stress enough the importance of probationary police officers mastering street names, locations, and address numbering patterns as quickly as possible. Time spent studying local street maps would be well spent.

Typical Qualifications

• Be at least 20 years of age and not more than 34 years of age* at the time of application. Be at least 21 years of age to accept the appointment. *Veterans' Exemption 65ILCS 5/10-2.1-6 ... with respect to a police department, a veteran shall be allowed to exceed the maximum age provision of this Section by the number of years served on active military duty, but by no more than 10 years of active military duty.
• High school diploma or its equivalent
• Citizen of United States
• Ability to possess a firearm

Supplemental Information

• Step One - Online Application and Exam*

Apply on our website by clicking the link above. DD-214 is required for Military points.


Sign up for an exam through National Testing Network (NTN). National Testing Network directly contracts with public safety departments across the country to test candidates for jobs. Once a candidate completes this simple process, information and test scores will be sent directly to each department. You can get more information about their site *NTN is now offering virtual testing. Please view this video to see how to sign up for a virtual test Exam must be completed by application deadline.

You will be tested on 3 portions (Video, Reading & Writing) and must pass each portion. An average score of all 3 portions will be determined. The Police Department has set a cutoff score of 80% . Scores will be available to view in your NTN account within 2-3 days.

Video - 65 or above

Reading - 70 or above

Writing - 70 or above

• Step Two - Physical Test

The Police Department administers the physical agility test twice a year (January and June). Human Resources will contact you to schedule a date/time for the test. Physical agility testing typically lasts about an hour. This is a Pass/Fail exam, with all components taking place indoors. We recommend you wear the appropriate athletic shoes and clothing for this exam.

• Step Three - Interview

Upon successfully passing the agility test, you will be invited to schedule an in-person interview. Immediately following the interview you will meet with background investigators to begin the background investigation process if necessary. The estimated completion time to complete the interview and meet with background investigators is 2-3 hours. The interviews will take place at the Bloomington Police Department, 305 S. East St., Bloomington, IL 61701.Candidates not invited to participate in Step Four will remain eligible for future consideration based on the employment needs of the Bloomington Police Department. You will be notified, if you have been removed from the pool.

• Step Four - Background

Please review the BFPC Rules and Regulations link above to find a list of all disqualifications. The background process can take 3-4 weeks to complete. A copy of your birth certificate, high school diploma, college transcripts and photo will be collected at the time of background. You can review the automatic disqualifiers

• Comprehensive Background Check
• Polygraph Exam
  *Those candidates will be rated as Pass/Fail. Candidates may be removed from the selection process during this phase.

Our employees are our greatest asset and reason for our success. As a full-time Unit 21 - Police employee, you will receive a Total Compensation package including healthcare/wellness benefits, paid time off (PTO), insurance and retirement. Details below:

Healthcare/Wellness

• Medical - choice between 2 low deductible PPO plans, an HSA-compatible PPO, and an HMO
  • All plans administered by BCBS
  • 75% employer subsidy provided, for employee and any covered dependent(s)
• Dental - PPO
  • Administered by BCBS
  • 50% employer subsidy provided, for employee and any covered dependent(s)
• Vision - PPO
  • Administered by VSP
  • 50% employer subsidy provided, for employee and any covered dependent(s)
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Extensive Wellness program, including an annual Health Club Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - for assistance with work, health & life topics such as overall wellbeing, relationship management, workplace challenges, addiction, child/elder care resources, legal advice, financial guidance, nutrition & physical health

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• 2 weeks vacation, provided on your start date
  • 3 weeks provided 1-4 years
  • 4 weeks provided 5-15 years
  • 4 weeks and 1 day provided 16 years
  • 4 weeks and 2 days provided 17 years
  • 4 weeks and 3 days provided 18 years
  • 4 weeks and 4 days provided 19 years
  • 5 weeks provided 20+ years
• 11.5 paid holidays each year. Due to the nature of positions within the Police Department, employees will receive additional pay throughout the year - equivalent to 11.5 working days - for potentially needing to work on the dates listed below
  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • 4th of July
  • Labor Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Day After Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year's Eve (1/2 day)
• 2 personal days provided each year
• Sick time earned each month, up to a maximum bank of 75 days

Insurance

• $50,000 Employer-provided benefit

Retirement

• Automatic enrollment in the Illinois Police Pension Fund
• Voluntary retirement options available:
  • 457 Account (similar to a 401k)
  • Roth IRA

Additional benefits, such as compensatory time, are also provided to Unit 21 employees. Details can be found within the union's
01


Are you at least 20 years of age?

• Yes
• No

02


Have you read the Police Information Page and Administrative Directives?

• Yes
• No

Required Question