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Police Officer Recruitment Overview
The Community:
The City of Highland, formed in 1837, is an established and growing community of approximately 9000 citizens. The city is a reflection of the community's deep Swiss and German heritage. Highland has grown from a small agricultural community into a successful business and industrial center. Yet, it maintains it's rural flavor and Swiss heritage.
As a retail center for the surrounding area, Highland offers every kind of business, from specialty shops to large discount stores. Several industries call Highland home, providing considerable employment locally. In addition, The Wall Street Journal prints its Midwest edition in Highland. The median age of the city residents is 37, and the median household income is $52,240 (1999).
The Government:
The City of Highland has a council/manager form of government. The City Council includes a mayor and four at large council members who meet twice each month.
The Police Department:
The Highland Police Department is a progressive department in areas of training, technology, and community policing. The department has members who are part of the Metro-East Fire Investigation Team and St. Louis Area Major case Squad. The department provides the community with an enhanced 911 Public Safety Answering Point, which is continuously staffed.The department has 20 sworn officers and 9 non-sworn employees which consist of communications and support personnel. In addition to conventional police services such as patrol and investigations, the department enhances its police and community services through the utilization of a boat patrol, school resource officer, bicycle patrol and D.A.R.E. program. Along with the opportunities for specialized trainings, the department offers a competitivestarting
salary and a comprehensive benefit program.
The Requirements:
To participate in the entry level selection process for the position of Police Officer, a candidate must possess or adhere to the following requirements:
•U.S. citizen or an alien admitted for permanent residency or authorized to work in the U.S.
•Be between the ages of 21 and 35.
Exceptions:
1) Candidates who are over 35 years of age, have any amount of full time law enforcement experience with a municipality in any state, are eligible,
2) Candidates who have Illinois Sheriff Deputy and/or Illinois State Police patrol experience are eligible up to the age of 40, and
3) Candidates who are 20 years of age and have successfully completed 2 years of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university, are eligible.
•Must possess an Associates degree or a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.
•Applicants must be able to complete a physical aptitude test and shall be required to provide a physician's certificate attesting to their ability to participate in such a test.
•Posses a valid drivers license at the time of appointment.
•Participate in all tests required when scheduled.
•Must successfully complete state mandated recruit academy.
The Process:
Advertising for the entry level testing process, the mandatory orientation, application form, physical aptitude test, and written examination are elements of the selection process conducted by the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Recruitment & Testing Consortium for member communities.
The written examination scores of all candidates and the application forms are forwarded to the Highland Fire and Police Commission. The Commission notifies all candidates of the written Examination results and ranking if placed on the eligibility list. Successful candidates are processed in subsequent steps as follows:
•Claimed eligibility points for military, and education are verified and added to the eligible candidate's overall score.
•A final eligibility list of candidates is established in numerical order based on written examination score, any military or education credit claimed, an the oral interview score.
•The eligibility list is valid for a period of two years from the date adopted by the Commission. Names may be added on an annual basis.
Further participation in the selection process will take place as vacancies occur. Candidates will be invited, in rank order, to participate in and successfully advance through the following steps:
•Psychological evaluation.
•Polygraph examination.
•Background investigation including personal, business, and employment references.
•Conditional offer of employment based on the successful passage of a medical examination including drug screening.
•Appointment and swearing-in ceremony before the Highland City Council.
Following appointment, a new police officer is required to satisfy certain other requirements during the first twelve months of employment:
•Successful completion of the state mandated recruit academy, if not already a graduate of the academy.
•Successful completion of in-house training program with assigned Field Training Officer.
•Successful completion of twelve month probationary period.
•Live within 12 miles of corporate city limits six months from the date of employment.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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