Lateral Police Officer

The Blue Line; Western Springs (IL); On-site; USD 83,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uniforms provided

Vacation and holidays accrual

12-hour shifts

Probation period 12 months

Accelerated Field Training Program

Job summary

Western Springs Police Department is accepting lateral police officer applications. The role requires State of Illinois certification, US work eligibility, and the ability to pass all examinations and training.

The department emphasizes a 12-hour shift pattern, a 12‑month probationary period, and uniform/equipment provision. Starting salary is around $82,856 with increases to top step up to $120,772, and a higher starting salary may be available with qualifying experience.

Qualifications

• State of Illinois certification by the ILETSB is required.
• Must have 21+ years old and U.S. citizenship or work authorization.
• Must be physically able to perform duties and meet vision requirements (20/100 binocular, 20/20 with glasses).
• Must pass all examinations and training requirements and may need to provide materials for verification.

Responsibilities

• Patrols specific areas on foot or motorized conveyance.
• Maintains order, responds to emergencies, protects people and property.
• Arrests offenders or issues citations.
• Monitors traffic and directs flow; responds to emergencies.
• Investigates accidents to determine causes and possible crimes.
• Relays information to dispatch and other agencies.

Skills

Logic & reasoning

Emotional intelligence

Communication

Active listening

Decision making

Helpfulness

Writing skills

Analytical thinking

Reading comprehension

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Western Springs Police Department

Contact Information

Address: Western Springs Police Department

740 Hillgrove Avenue

Western Springs, IL 60558

Website

wsprings.com/159/Police

Phone

708-246-1800 ext.155

Email

[e-mail]

Position Information

Application Deadline:

11/02/26 @ 5:00 PM

Salary:

Current Starting: $82,855.77

Annual step increases until the top step of the contractual salary level is reached (2027 - $120,772.27).

A higher starting salary may be available with qualifying years of experience.

12-Hour Fixed Shifts

12-month Probationary Period

All Uniforms/Equipment Provided**

Vacation and Holiday time are combined and will be accrued at 6.16 hours per pay period (3.08 hours holiday plus 3.08 vacation) totaling 4 weeks/year

Accelerated Field Training Program

Sworn: 21

Population: 13,629

Position Details

VILLAGE OF WESTERN SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCEPTING LATERAL POLICE OFFICER APPLICATIONS

Application Deadline:

Monday, November 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM

State Of Illinois Law Enforcement Certification Is Required.

All information contained in or connected with the application will be considered personal and confidential to the extent possible or permitted by law and used only in conjunction with your possible employment with the Western Springs Police Department. Please furnish complete information as outlined in the application.

Read every question carefully and answer accurately. An applicant will be disqualified from further processing if they make a false statement of a material fact, practices any deception or fraud in the application or examination of appointment. Any false statements on this application will be considered sufficient cause for dismissal. Any misrepresentation on this application, whether actual or by omission, may disqualify you for consideration of employment by the Western Springs Police Department.

Please contact Ashlee Jasutis, Deputy Police Chief with questions regarding the application, required documents, or testing at: 708-246-1800 ext.155 OR [e-mail]

Minimum Requirements And Qualifications:

• State of Illinois certification by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB).
• Part‑time certification as a law enforcement officer; corrections officer certification; and/or military law enforcement training DO NOT meet this requirement.
• U.S. citizenship or authorized to work in the United States under federal law or qualified under federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) for deferred immigration action.
• Individuals must be at least 21 years old.
• Education - High school education or GED.
• Experience – at least 2 years continuous experience as a current full‑time sworn officer in good standing.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Valid FOID card.
• No felony convictions.
• Must be physically able to perform the essential duties of the position.
• Must have at least 20/100 binocular vision without glasses, correctable to 20/20 with glasses, and shall not be color blind.
• Must be of good moral character.
• Must agree to comply with all requirements of the position, including providing copies of any requested employment‑related materials or other documents to confirm or verify information, and have the ability to pass all examination and training requirements. The Village of Western Springs reserves the right to re‑verify candidate qualifications at any time during the screening and hiring process.
• The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners requires all employees to enter into an expense reimbursement agreement upon hire.

Tasks:

• Patrols specific areas on foot or motorized conveyance.
• Maintains order, responds to emergencies, protects people and property, and enforces motor vehicle and criminal law.
• Arrests perpetrators of criminal acts or submits a citation or warning to a violator of motor vehicle ordinance.
• Monitors traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
• Directs traffic flow and reroutes traffic in case of emergencies.
• Reviews facts to determine if a criminal act or statute violation is involved.
• Evaluates complaint and emergency‑request information to determine response requirements.
• Investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.
• Provides road information to assist motorists.
• Relays complaint and emergency‑request information to appropriate agency dispatcher.

Skills:

• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Communicating effectively in writing is appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem‑solving and decision‑making.
• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work‑related documents.
• Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Abilities:

• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to signal a (sound, light, picture when it appears.
• Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• See details at a distance.
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sound, touch, or other sources).
• Sense when something is wrong or likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.