City of Freeport Board of Fire & Police Commission APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT INSTRUCTIONS: Please complete this application completely and accurately. All statements are subject to verification. If you need more space to complete an answer please use the continuation sheet at the end of this application. Use the term DNA (does not apply) if the question does not apply to you. Full Name: City/State/Zip: Home Phone: Social Security Number: Other Phone: Position applied for: Are you over the age of 21? Have you ever been employed by the City of Freeport before? o Yes o No Are you legally eligible for employment in the United States? o Yes o No Have you ever applied for a position with this department? o Yes o No If yes, when? EDUCATION: Name and location of school. High School: Did you graduate? Business / Trade: Did you graduate? College/University: Did you graduate? Graduate/Prof.: Did you graduate? Degree: Degree: Degree: Degree: CONTINUING EDUCATION and/or SPECIAL TRAINING or SKILLS: List additional information that would be of benefit in the job for which you are applying i.e., computer experience. MILITARY SERVICE: Have you ever served in a branch of the United States military? Did you receive a dishonorable discharge? o Yes o No If yes, what branch?
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Begin with the most recent position. Current or most recent employer: CRIMINAL HISTORY: (as an adult, minor, or juvenile) Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense? o Yes o No If yes, explain: Date: By Whom (Police Agency): **A conviction record will not necessarily bar you from employment with this agency.**
REFERENCES: Name: Relationship: Name: Relationship: Name: Relationship: REASON FOR APPLYING: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please include any other information you think would be helpful when considering your application for employment. I certify that all the information submitted by me on this application is true and complete, and I understand that if any false information, omissions, or misrepresentations are discovered, my application may be rejected and if I am employed, my employment may be terminated at any time. Applicant s Signature Date: CONTINUATION: Indicate which question you are answering and then complete in the space provided. The City of Freeport is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment based on race, religion, sex, age, national origin, color, ancestry, marital status or mental or physical handicaps.
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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THESE DOCUMENTS, YOUR APPLICATION WITH THIS DEPARTMENT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED CERTIFICATE (COPY) CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE (COPY) COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY DEGREE (COPY) NOTE: A COPY OF A CERTIFIED TRANSCRIPT WILL BE REQUESTED FOR APPLICATION OF EDUCATION POINTS VETERANS: MILITARY SERVICE RECORD AND DD214 (COPY) DRIVER S LICENSE (COPY OF BOTH SIDES) CITIZENSHIP AND OR NATURALIZATION PAPERS - IF APPLICABLE SOCIAL SECURITY CARD (COPY OF ORIGINAL) MEDICAL RELEASE (PROVIDED) FROM YOUR PHYSICIAN STATING THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PHYSICAL AGILITY TESTING. IMPORTANT INFORMATION APPLICATIONS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS must be returned to the Police Department no later than August 13, 2014 @ 3:00 p.m. - documents must be returned in person or by means of traceable delivery method (USPS, UPS or FedEx) to the Freeport Police Department, Attn: Janet Weber, 320 W. Exchange Street, Freeport, IL 61032 Invitations to attend a mandatory orientation, physical agility and written examination will be sent to those applicants whose applications have been accepted. Mandatory Orientation will be held Saturday, August 23, 2014 @ 8:30 a.m. at Freeport Middle School. Physical Agility will be held immediately following orientation at Freeport High School (track). Written exam will be held immediately following the physical agility.
Qualifications AGE Applicants shall be under 35 years of age, at the time of application and at such time as the final eligibility list is posted, unless exempt from such age limitation as provided in Section 5/10-2.1-6 of the Fire and Police Commissioner s Act. Applicants, at such time as they file their application with this board, must be 21 years of age. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS The applicant shall furnish with the application a copy of his Military Service Record (DD214), Driver s License, Social Security Card, Certified Birth Certificate (copy), High School Diploma or GED Certificate, a copy of his College or University Degree, and a completed Medical Release Form. DRIVER S LICENSE A valid Illinois Driver s License is required at the time of appointment to the department. EDUCATION A high school diploma or its equivalent is required. RESIDENCY Within thirty days after completion of his/her probationary period, each employee shall reside, and shall continue to reside during his/her employment with the City, within twenty (20) radius miles from the police station. ARREST RECORD An applicant must not have any felony convictions and will be disqualified for certain misdemeanors. Disqualifying Misdemeanors: Indecent Solicitation of a Child Adultery Public Indecency Prostitution Soliciting for a prostitute Keeping a place of prostitution Patronizing a prostitute Pimping Aggravated assault Intimidation Criminal Sexual Abuse Eavesdropping Theft Residential Picketing Unlawful possession of firearms and firearm ammunition Defacing identification marks of firearms Mob action Keeping a gambling place Resisting or obstructing a Peace Officer Obstructing justice Escape Aiding escape Compounding a crime Perjury Subordination of perjury Communicating with jurors and witnesses Physical Fitness Assessment Test Applicants must pass each test - a failure on any one of the five test events removes the applicant from any further testing. The following events will be used for the physical agility test: STRETCHER CARRY Applicants carry one end of a stretcher loaded with 175 pounds of weight for a distance of 20 yards with one applicant at each end of the stretcher. At the end of the 20 yards distance, the applicants will place the stretcher on the ground, stand up and then pick stretcher up again and the return 20 yards to the starting point. There is no time limit so as to avoid running with stretcher, however, the applicants are to complete the course in one continuous movement, with no stopping except at the midpoint of the exercise. LADDER CLIMB Applicants are to climb a ladder 16 to 18 in one continuous motion. This will test the applicant s ability to handle moderate heights. FOOT CHASE AND FENCE SCALE Applicants are to simulate a foot pursuit and their ability to scale fences or other barriers encountered in residential areas. Applicants may make as many attempts as possible in a 10-second time limit. BODY DRAG Applicants are to drag in any reasonable manner a 175 pound dummy 50 feet on a level grass surface. This must be done in 20 seconds. ONE QUARTER MILE RUN Applicants are to run a relatively level quarter-mile course. The course is to be run in 90 seconds. Thank you for your interest in the Freeport Police Department. We hope this information will provide answers to any questions you may have. If you desire any other information, please contact Janet Weber during normal business hours at (815)235-8222. Please contact us at the above number if you would like to be placed on our mailing list to receive information regarding future testing. Freeport Police Department Committed to Excellence The City of Freeport is an Equal Opportunity Employer THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A POLICE OFFICER? The Freeport Police Department is looking for individuals who possess good personal communications skills, creativity, the ability to solve problems and deal with critical challenges, and compassion for a diverse group of people. If you are or know someone who possesses the above qualities contact us for more information on starting a rewarding career. Freeport Police Department 320 W. Exchange Street Freeport, IL 61032-4188 815-235-8222
Testing Information All testing is conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commission (BFPC), City of Freeport Ordinances, and all applicable State and Federal Statutes. The testing process to become a Freeport Police Officer has several steps. They are listed below: PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT This test consists of five (5) events, all of which are explained on the following pages and all of which are a pass/fail. WRITTEN EXAMINATION A written examination will be administered by the BFPC. A score of 70 or higher is required. Applicants achieving a passing score on the written examination will be invited back to take the Personality Evaluation Profile. Applicants must also achieve an overall score of 37 or higher on the Personality Evaluation Profile to be considered further in the testing process. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION An in-depth background investigation will be conducted by the Department, and is advisory to the BFPC. ORAL EXAMINATION Given by the Board of Fire and Police. PREFERENCE POINTS Veteran s Preference Points (5) will be applied as allowed by Illinois Compiled Statutes and the rules and regulations of the BFPC to those Veterans who qualify and apply for said points. Points may also be applied for education or law enforcement certification pursuant to statute (5/10-2.1-8 & 5/10-2.1-9) at the request of the applicant. ELIGIBILITY LIST All candidates that successfully pass the testing process are placed on an eligibility list, according to their final score, that remains in effect for two years. Appointments are then made from this list, as openings exist, contingent upon successful passage of all phases of the examination process. What to Expect Once an opening exists on the department, the next eligible candidate on the eligibility list will be contacted and given a conditional offer of employment. The candidate must successfully complete the personality assessment and medical exam/ drug screening before being sworn in as a member of the Freeport Police Department. PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT Final candidates will undergo psychological and polygraph examinations. Candidates must successfully pass both the psychological and polygraph tests to be further considered for employment. MEDICAL EXAMINATION The candidate will be scheduled for a physical examination. An extensive physical examination to include drug screening is required by the City of Freeport to determine fitness to perform the duties of a police officer. The State of Illinois also requires a physical examination for entry into the police academies. SWEARING-IN Individuals who are determined to be able to perform the duties as required by the City of Freeport and the State of Illinois are then sworn-in as police officers. POWER TEST All recruit officers attending an accredited academy must successfully pass the POWER test in order to continue their employment with this department. SCHOOLING Once hired, a new recruit officer will attend a 12 week basic training course at an accredited academy. An officer must maintain a passing average at the academy AND pass the comprehensive examination given the last week of school. Failure to pass either can result in immediate termination of employment from the department. Upon completion of basic training, officers return to the department for additional training. FIELD TRAINING Upon completion of training at the academy, a recruit officer will begin a period of on-the-job training. During this period, the recruit will work with Field Training Officers and will be taught various aspects of the job as well as be evaluated regularly. PROBATION After successful completion of the FTO program the officer begins a twelve (12) month probationary period. PATROL OFFICER Upon successful completion of the FTO program, the recruit will be assigned as a patrol officer. This usually means working alone, in a marked squad on various shifts. General Information ADVANCEMENT As an officer moves through his/her career with the department, there is a potential for advancement to positions such as Corporal, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Other positions include, detective, juvenile detective, street crime unit, and narcotics investigation. WORKING HOURS The Freeport Police Department works four twelve hour shifts in the patrol division, 6:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. 6:00 a.m. Officers will be assigned to a shift depending on department needs. There are other shifts and assignments that an individual might be assigned at times during their training an/or career. UNIFORMS All newly appointed recruits will be provided with all necessary uniforms and equipment items needed. A duty weapon (Glock 9 mm) is available for issuance. Other sidearms are at the officer s expense and require prior department approval. SALARY As of 5/1/14 Entry level $19.53/hour 6 months $20.34/hour 1 Year $21.13/hour Note: 85.50 hours/pay period HEALTH INSURANCE The City of Freeport offers an excellent health plan to all employees. VACATION A new employee will accrue 3.44 hours of vacation every fourteen days. PAID HOLIDAYS Twelve paid holidays are provided to employees per year. SICK LEAVE Officers accumulate 12.25 hours sick time per full month. PENSION Individuals who are accepted into the pension system are eligible to retire pursuant to benefits of the Downstate Illinois Police Pension Fund and 40 ILCS 5/3-111 (Both the participant and the City of Freeport contribute to the pension plan). Benefits are provided for in a contract between the City and PB&PA. They are subject to change whenever a new contract is negotiated.
City of Freeport Board of Fire and Police Commission 320 W. Exchange Street Freeport, Illinois 61032 815-235-8222 MEDICAL RELEASE FORM **To be completed by physician** This candidate is required to obtain a physician s release before participating in the physical agility test. If further information is needed, please contact Janet Weber at (815)235-8222 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday Friday. This is to certify that I have reviewed the following elements of the Freeport Police Department Physical Ability Assessment. 1) 1/4 Mile Run: Applicants must run 1/4 mile in 90 seconds. 2) Body Drag: Applicants must drag in any reasonable manner a 175 pound dummy 50 feet on a level grass surface. This must be done in 20 seconds. 3) Stretcher Carry: Applicants carry one end of a stretcher loaded with 175 pounds of weight for a distance of 20 yards with one applicant at each end of the stretcher. At the end of the 20 yards, the applicants will place the stretcher on the ground, stand up and then pick the stretcher up again and then return the 20 yards to the starting point. There is no time limit; however, the applicants are to complete the course in one continuous movement with no stopping except at the mid-point of the exercise. 4) Ladder Climb: Applicants are to climb a ladder 16' to 18" in one continuous motion. 5) Foot Chase/Fence Scale: Applicants are to simulate a foot pursuit and their ability to scale fences or other barriers encountered in residential areas. Applicants may take as many attempts as possible in a 10 second time limit. After reviewing, it is my professional opinion that the candidate named below: Candidate s Name: CAN safely perform the physical agility testing. Physician s Signature (M.D.): Date: Physician s Name and (Type or Imprint with office stamp) Medical release forms backdated more than 60 days prior to physical agility test will not be accepted.