Career Opportunities

Probationary Police Officer

Applications for Lateral Hires Are Accepted at Any Time

The Belleville Police Department is always on the lookout for quality people able to wear the badge of a police officer and serve our community with pride and honor. Whether you’re looking to join our team as a new entry level police officer or an experienced police officer, the Belleville Police Department may have a position for you. Regardless of your experience, qualified candidates must have a proactive mindset, a strong work ethic, strong morals, and the ability to professionally engage the community we serve. If this describes you, and you are searching for the opportunity for real career development, actual advancement through promotion or assignment, along with great pay and benefits, then the Belleville Police Department may be your team.

For more information, view details of the New Hire Process.

About the Department

We are a department approved for 72 officers and more than 25 civilian support personnel who work together to provide the highest quality of service to our community. Our community consists of just over 42,000 people with thousands more that visit our fine town daily. With the support of our local government, our department benefits from high quality training, the newest law enforcement technologies, and a state-of-the-art police department that opened in 2016.

Our new campus boasts a three-story main building that is home to Administration, Operations, Records, Communications and a Detention Facility capable of housing 26 detainees. Our department also has a full service, climate-controlled garage for storage and maintenance of police vehicles. Additionally, our department has:

• Plentiful workspace with specialized areas

• Fully equipped locker rooms with oversized lockers and showers

• 24-hour gym with high quality cardio, weight, and resistance training equipment

• Outdoor pistol/rifle range

Benefits

Starting May 1, 2022, probationary police officers start at $71,270 (night shift) with subsequent cost of living raises of 3% in 2023, 2% in 2024, 2% in 2025, and 4% in 2026. In addition to the base salary, the City of Belleville offers ample opportunities for overtime work and pay. Belleville officers are also allowed to live within 45 miles from the city limits of Belleville.

Officers start with a generous vacation package, health insurance for them, dependents, and/or families, and pension benefits for retirement. The Belleville Police Department also offers tuition reimbursement (books included) up to a Master’s Degree. Officers receive a higher rate of pay for college education.

Officers and civilian support personnel have 24-hour access to our on-site high quality fitness center. Officers also enjoy a robust locker room and shower facilities. The City of Belleville also provides an outdoor range that officers can use for firearms training. Our large on-site fleet garage allows for the indoor storage of our police vehicles and employs 2 full-time mechanics to help keep our police vehicles in top operating condition and on the road longer.

Entry Level Police Officers

Every applicant must be of good moral character, temperate habits, of sound health, and must be physically able to perform the duties of the position applied for.

If hired, an entry level Belleville Police Officer with no prior police experience will attend a 14-week police academy located at Southwestern Illinois College (S.W.I.C.). Upon successful completion and graduation from the academy, probationary officers begin a 14-week field training program under the direction of a Field Training Officer(s).

Requirements:

To participate in the Entry-Level Selection Process for the position of police officer, a candidate must possess or adhere to the following requirement(s):

Between the ages of 21-35.
- Exceptions: 1) Candidates who are over 35 years of age, and 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 64 college credit hours or an Associate’s Degree at an accredited college or university, are eligible, 4) a military veteran shall be allowed to exceed age 35 by the number of years served in active military duty, up to 10 years
Successfully pass the Peace Officer Wellness Evaluation Report (P.O.W.E.R.) test, and receive your subsequent P.O.W.E.R. Test Card. Applicants must show a valid P.O.W.E.R. Test Card prior to be admitted to the written examination. The applicant is required to register for a P.O.W.E.R. test date. P.O.W.E.R. tests are conducted at Southwestern Illinois College located at 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL. 62221. Registration can be completed at the following link: https://www.swic.edu/academics/career-certificates/homeland-security/southwestern-illinois-police-academy/power-test-card/.

High School diploma or GED
No felony convictions
Must pass an in-depth background investigation
Must pass all examinations and requirements as required by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners with the City of Belleville
Establish residency within 45 miles of the city limits of Belleville.

Accelerated Entry / Lateral Police Officers

Current full-time police officers can apply for a position as a Belleville Police Officer through our Accelerated Entry or Lateral Hire program. Officers applying through this program are not subject to the P.O.W.E.R. test or written examination (POST).

Every applicant must be of good moral character, temperate habits, of sound health, and must be physically able to perform the duties of the position for which they have applied. The burden of establishing these facts rests upon the applicant.

Certified police officers hired with previous law enforcement experience that have successfully completed an approved police academy (in the State of Illinois or another state) will enter directly into our field training program. Once hired, those officers certified in a state other that Illinois may be subject to further education and certification regarding Illinois law. The field training program may be shorter for those officers entering service through the accelerated entry program.

Requirements:

To participate in the Accelerated Entry Process, a candidate must possess or adhere to the following requirement(s):

•   Be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment (maximum age is determined in compliance with current Illinois State Statutes, Section 5/10-2.1-6 of the Fire and Police Commissioners Act) and;
•   Currently employed as a full-time certified law enforcement officer – OR a certified officer who has been laid off for financial or budgetary reasons from an agency within the past 12 months preceding the announcement of a testing date and be able to provide proof thereof;
•   A high school graduate with diploma or its equivalent.
•   No felony convictions
•   Must pass an in-depth background investigation
•   Must pass all examinations and requirements as required by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners with the City of Belleville
•   Establish residency within 45 miles of the city limits of Belleville