Position Details
Entry-Level Police Officer Hiring Process
Wauconda Police Department
Wauconda, Illinois
The Board of Fire & Police Commissioners of the Village of Wauconda, Illinois is accepting applications for the position of police officer with the Wauconda Police Department.
About the Village:
The Village of Wauconda is located in west central Lake County about 45 miles northeast of the City of Chicago. As the Village undergoes growth, the Wauconda Police Department is looking for the best people available to become police officers. Future growth, advancement, potential, salary and benefits are considered excellent.
About the Department:
The Wauconda Police Department employs 35 sworn police officers: 25 full-time and 10 part-time, and 3 full-time and 4 part-time civilian employees. Patrol Officers currently work permanent shifts, which are bid by seniority on a yearly basis and a 5-days worked/3-days off, 9 hour schedule. The Department is responsible for providing the community with professional law enforcement service and the protection of all persons and property.
The Police Department is divided into four primary divisions: administration, investigations, patrol, and support services.
- Administrative Division: The Chief of Police, Deputy Chief, and one executive assistant.
- Patrol Division: One Operations Commander, three Sergeants, 18 Patrol Officers, and two part-time Community Service Officers. There are two Officers assigned to K-9 team. The Marine Unit falls under the Patrol Division which consists of a part-time Sergeant and nine part-time Marine Unit Officers.
- Investigations Division: One Detective Sergeant, two Detectives, and one School Resource Officer and one part-time Civilian Forensic Technician.
- Support Services Division: One administrative supervisor, and three part-time support services clerks to perform the daily records functions and monitor the front lobby.
The Wauconda Police Department offers numerous specialty positions for officers, including, but not limited to:
- Bicycle Patrol Officer
- Public Information Officer
- Evidence Technician
- K-9
- Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Officer
- Lake County Special Investigations Group (LCSIG)
- Lake County Major Crimes Task Force
- Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) officer
- Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS)
- Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT)
All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements established by the Village of Wauconda:
- U.S. citizenship -OR- legal permanent residency (green card holder)
- No felony convictions
- Applicants who are 20 years of age -AND- have successfully completed two (2) years of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university shall be eligible to take the initial examination. Any such applicant who is appointed under this provision shall not have power of arrest, or be permitted to carry a firearm until he/she reaches 21 years of age. All other applicants not having such college education MUST be 21 years of age, -AND- have not yet attained age 35, unless meeting certain exceptions as indicated under State Statute
- Possess a valid state-issued Driver's License
- High school diploma or G.E.D. required
- Possess a valid POWER test card -OR- equivalent criteria as per the State standard, issued within 6 months prior to the written exam date (November 8, 2025)
- Only POWER Test Cards issued by NIPSTA, Triton College, or Joliet Junior College will be accepted
- Residency within 25 miles of the Village of Wauconda at time of hire
- Successful completion of a written examination and mandatory candidate orientation session
- After posting of the entry level eligibility roster, the following steps will be required prior to hire: successfully passing of an oral interview, credit/background investigation, psychological and polygraph examinations, medical examination, and drug testing
- Pay a $25.00 non-refundable application processing fee
- Submit application and all required documentation no later than Monday, October 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM (CST)
- Participate in mandatory orientation and written examination testing on Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Wauconda High School
Preference points will be awarded as determined by the Village of Wauconda for the following:
- Military: Persons who were engaged in the military or naval service of the United States for at least one year and were honorably discharged. A copy of Form DD-214 (indicating status of discharge).
To apply for this position or obtain additional information, please visit the following website:
www.applytoserve.com
The Village of Wauconda is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
