Police Officer Recruitment
The City of Naperville, Illinois is a dynamic community of approximately 150,000 residents, located 28 miles west of Chicago. Money Magazine named Naperville the second-best city in the United States in which to live. We have gained national recognition for our family-friendly environment, excellent schools and library system, low crime rate and vibrant downtown area. Our municipal government employs nearly 1,000 dedicated individuals in a wide range of job categories.
The Naperville Police Department employs a staff of almost 300 employees whose mission is to provide extraordinary service to the community while protecting life and property.
Recognizing the diverse needs of the community, the department provides and encourages a policy of professional and individual excellence, which is enhanced by continuing education and training. The annual starting salary for a Naperville Police Officer will be $78,716.35 as of Jan. 1, 2024. The January 2025 rate will be determined once the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is ratified.
Lateral Applicants
The Naperville Police Department will occasionally post job openings for experienced officers certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board who have a minimum of two years’ experience as a full-time police officer with an Illinois law enforcement agency.
The process for lateral applicants includes an application, experience verification and background check, oral interview, polygraph examination, post-offer psychological and medical evaluation, and a current employer check.
Additional qualification and application information is available on the City’s careers webpage when the department is actively accepting applications for lateral transfers.
Applicants for Entry-Level Positions
Applicants for an entry-level position in the Naperville Police Department must meet the following criteria for submission of an application.
Citizenship and Residency
Applicants must be citizens of the United States of America. Proof of citizenship will be required at time of application. Sworn personnel of the Naperville Police Department shall not be required to be residents of the City of Naperville.
Age
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and shall be under 35 years of age, unless the applicant falls under one of the following exceptions to the maximum hiring age:
- Any person previously employed as a police officer in a regularly constituted police department of any municipality located in Illinois or another state; or
- Any person who has served as a deputy under Section 3-6008 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/3-6008) and otherwise meets necessary training requirements; or
- Any person who has served as a sworn officer as a member of the Illinois Department of State Police; or
- Any person who is a veteran shall be allowed to exceed the maximum age provision by the number of years served on active military duty, but by no more than ten years of active military duty.
Age for application will be calculated as of the date of the written test.
Education
Applicants must:
- Be a high school graduate or equivalent at the time of application.
- Have completed at least 60 credit hours at an accredited college or university at the time of application.
- Provide an official transcript as proof of completing at least 60 credit hours at an accredited college or university.
POWER Certification
Upon beginning the background process, applicants must provide a copy of their current and valid POWER test certification card issued within six months. For more information about the POWER test, visit the Illinois Law Enforcement and Training website. POWER certification can be obtained at the following locations: Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA), Triton College, or Joliet Junior College.
Application & Testing
The Naperville Police Department is not currently accepting applications for entry-level police officers. Application information during active recruitment cycles will be posted here. Please check back for details.
Please direct ALL QUESTIONS regarding the application process, required documents or testing to (800) 343-HIRE (4473) or recruitment@IOSOLUTIONS.com
Naperville’s testing process is comprised of a written exam and an oral interview.
Failure to participate in any one of the testing components or failure to achieve the minimum passing grade in any examination disqualifies the applicant from any further participation in the testing process.
The applicant’s final weighted score on the graded portion of the examination process, along with the application of veteran’s and other preference points, shall determine the applicant’s qualification for and placement on the final register of eligible candidates.
The following shows the minimum passing score and weighting of the different testing components for 2024 Police Officer Testing with the Naperville Police Department:
- Orientation (if offered) – No minimum score or weighting
- Written Test – 70% minimum score, 60% weighting
- Oral Examination – 60% minimum score, 40% weighting
Applicants must also successfully pass a background investigation and polygraph, post-offer psychological and medical evaluation, and a current employer check.
Preference Points
- Veterans - Applicants who actively served in the United States military for at least one year and who were honorably discharged or are now on inactive or reserve duty shall be preferred for employment and shall receive not less than five (5) preference points. Proof of such service must include a copy of Military Form DD-214 (long form) as proof of active service and evidence of the honorable discharge at the time of application.
- Interns and current Naperville Police Department employees - Applicants who successfully completed the Naperville Police Department’s Internship Program, or who are employed by the Naperville Police Department, have completed probation and currently serve in good standing shall receive between zero and three preference points. For the year 2024, the number of points that shall be awarded are one (1) point for completion of the Naperville Police Department’s Internship program and three (3) points for current Naperville Police Department employees. Proof of successful completion of the internship program, or proof of the completion of the probationary period and good standing as a Naperville Police Department employee, must accompany the claim for preference points. Preference points awarded under this sub-section shall not be cumulative.
- Education - Applicants who have successfully obtained a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university may receive from zero (0) to five (5) preference points. For the year 2024, the number of points that shall be awarded is three (3). Copy of official transcripts must accompany the claim for preference points.
The City of Naperville is an equal opportunity employer; women and
minority candidates are encouraged to apply.
