Entry Level Patrol Officer

Salary : $81,304.16 - $107,044.56 Annually

Location : Bloomington, IL

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 00754

Department: Police

Division: Police

Opening Date: 11/03/2025

Closing Date: 1/23/2026 11:59 PM Central

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Description

For more information, please visit the page.

The job of Patrol Officer is general duty police work in the protection of life and property and the enforcement of laws and ordinances. The work involves preventive patrol, preliminary investigation, traffic enforcement and regulation, and preservation of social order and public peace by means of patrolling in cars or on foot in a designated area where the officer is accountable. The delivery of service at the Police Officer level applies to the protection of life and property prevention and suppression of crime; apprehension of criminal offenders; regulation and control of traffic; recovery of lost or stolen property; and preservation and maintenance of social order and public peace.

The Patrol Officer is required to exercise a great deal of discretion concerning basic police responsibility. The Police Officer runs the risk of upsetting the delicate balance that must be maintained between the rights of individual citizens and the safety and protection of the community. It is the duty of the Patrol Officer to interpret the laws and determine which ones to enforce, and decide upon the manner in which they will be enforced within real or imagined departmental police perimeters.

The uniform force is the "backbone" of the Police Department and the focal point for all police activities. All other police services are either supportive of, or supplemental to, the patrol operation.

Examples of Duties

Some scholars claim that policing a free society is the most complex job in the world, partly because police are frequently called upon to be all things to all people. The popular culture image of a police officer does not accurately reflect the reality of policing. If you have chosen to apply, investing a few hours riding with a Bloomington Police Officer could provide a better understanding of the job. Short of that, the job tasks of a police officer may generally be found in the police officer job description of the Bloomington Police Department Rules and Regulations.

During field training, a probationary police officer's primary focus includes:

Handling a wide range of calls for service

Generating self-initiated activity (e.g., traffic/pedestrian stops)

Providing enforcement activity (arrests/citations etc.)

Maintaining public order when appropriate

Report writing

Evidence collection, preservation, storage

Court room testimony

Probationary officers are frequently challenged to perform basic job tasks under varying degrees of pressure. They may be required to safely operate a motor vehicle under emergency conditions, talk on the radio to the telecommunicator and other responding officers, plan the most efficient route of travel, assess possible threats, consider the need for additional resources and make the appropriate requests in a timely manner, develop a response strategy in route while considering officer safety strategies, and adapt immediately to changing conditions or updated information. Clearly, police officers must be able to multi-task effectively to complete the probationary period and consistently perform the job functions of a competent, fully trained police officer. 4 Perhaps the most problematic issue for probationary officers unfamiliar with our community is learning the geography. We cannot stress enough the importance of probationary police officers mastering street names, locations, and address numbering patterns as quickly as possible. Time spent studying local street maps would be well spent.

Typical Qualifications

Be at least 20 years of age and not more than 34 years of age* at the time of application. Be at least 21 years of age to accept the appointment. *Veterans' Exemption 65ILCS 5/10-2.1-6 ... with respect to a police department, a veteran shall be allowed to exceed the maximum age provision of this Section by the number of years served on active military duty, but by no more than 10 years of active military duty.

High school diploma or its equivalent

Citizen of United States

Ability to possess a firearm

Our employees are our greatest asset and reason for our success. As a full-time Unit 21 - Police employee, you will receive a Total Compensation package including healthcare/wellness benefits, paid time off (PTO), insurance and retirement. Details below:

Healthcare/Wellness

Medical - choice between 2 low deductible PPO plans, an HSA-compatible PPO, and an HMO

All plans administered by BCBS

75% employer subsidy provided, for employee and any covered dependent(s)

Dental - PPO

Administered by BCBS

50% employer subsidy provided, for employee and any covered dependent(s)

Vision - PPO

Administered by VSP

50% employer subsidy provided, for employee and any covered dependent(s)

Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Extensive Wellness program, including an annual Health Club Reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - for assistance with work, health & life topics such as overall wellbeing, relationship management, workplace challenges, addiction, child/elder care resources, legal advice, financial guidance, nutrition & physical healthPaid Time Off (PTO)

2 weeks vacation, provided on your start date

3 weeks provided 1-4 years

4 weeks provided 5-15 years

4 weeks and 1 day provided 16 years

4 weeks and 2 days provided 17 years

4 weeks and 3 days provided 18 years

4 weeks and 4 days provided 19 years

5 weeks provided 20+ years

11.5 paid holidays each year. Due to the nature of positions within the Police Department, employees will receive additional pay throughout the year - equivalent to 11.5 working days - for potentially needing to work on the dates listed below

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Good Friday

Memorial Day

4th of July

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving

Day After Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

New Year's Eve (1/2 day)

2 personal days provided each year

Sick time earned each month, up to a maximum bank of 75 daysInsurance

$50,000 Employer-provided benefitRetirement

Automatic enrollment in the Illinois Police Pension Fund

Voluntary retirement options available:

457 Account (similar to a 401k)

Roth IRAAdditional benefits, such as compensatory time, are also provided to Unit 21 employees. Details can be found within the union's

01

Are you at least 20 years of age?

Yes

No

02

Have you read the Police Information Page and Administrative Directives?

Yes

No

Required Question