Lateral Police Officer

Winthrop Harbor Police Department

Contact Information

Address:

Website:

• winthropharbor.com

Phone:

• 847-872-2131

Email:

• avelardi@whpd.org

Application Deadline:

• 11/25/25
• @ 5:00 PM

Salary:

• Starting: $83,787.34

  Top Pay: $99,427.50 after one year

  Benefits Summary:

  Disclaimer: This summary is intended to provide general information regarding benefits and other related information and is not meant to be all-inclusive. Not all benefits or information presented may apply to certain individuals, such as employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Each plan or program has its own eligibility requirements. This summary does not create expressed or implied benefits that a candidate for employment would be entitled to if hired. The Village of Winthrop Harbor reserves the right to change or end its benefit plans or programs at any time. The following is not a summary of the plans or policies or a description of their key features or details. In case of conflict or question, the official plan documents or applicable policies, as amended, will govern.

  Bargaining Unit:

  • Illinois Council of Police (ICOPs): full time, sworn employees in the rank of Police Officer 

  Paid Time Off:

  • Holidays: Sworn Police Officers receive 13 paid holidays as detailed in the applicable collective bargaining agreement; available time is pro-rated for new hires.
  • Personal Time: Sworn Police Officers receive 2 personal days (16 hours) for use upon completion of the first year of full employment, and subsequent years thereafter.
  • Vacation: Vacation time will be based upon total number of years of service the candidate has as a full time law enforcement officer prior to starting with the Winthrop Harbor Police Department. Once the base line vacation time is established, vacation will then be accrued based upon the applicable collective bargaining agreement. 

  Examples:

  1 year of full time service	5 days of vacation
  5 years of full time service	13 days of vacation
  10 years of full time service	18 days of vacation
  14 years of full time service	22 days of vacation
  18 years of full time service	25 days of vacation

  • Sick Leave: Sick time is earned at the rate of one day (8 hours) per month worked based upon the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
  • Schedule: 8 ½ hour shifts- five on- two off, five on- 3 off 

  Pension System:

  • Police Pension Fund: 40 ILCS 5/ Article 3. Police Pension Fund. Employee post-tax contribution is 9.91% of pensionable wages. 

  The  Village of Winthrop Harbor Also Provides a Full Package of Core Benefits to Include:

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Deferred Compensation
  • Tuition Assistance 

  A full detailed explanation of benefits will be provided upon a conditional offer of employment.

Sworn:

• 15

Population:

• 6,700

Position Details

Winthrop Harbor Police Department

LATERAL HIRE POLICE OFFICER FOR EMPLOYMENT

All required documents must be attached upon submission.

You cannot be considered for the position unless you meet the Minimum Qualifications.

Any questions concerning the employment process should be directed to:

Chief Velardi

Village of Winthrop Harbor

830 Sheridan Road

Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096

847-872-2131

Minimum Requirements and Qualifications:

Candidates for lateral appointment to the position of full-time Police Officer must meet the following minimum qualifications and requirements at the time of application:

• State of Illinois certification by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, with no training required by that Board for recertification. Part-time certification as a law enforcement officer does not meet this requirement.
• United States citizen.
• Education - High School or GED.
• Experience - a minimum of two (2) years of experience as a full-time sworn, certified law enforcement officer in Illinois within the last three (3) years;
• Municipal law enforcement experience preferred.
• The two-year experience requirement does not include time spent at the basic law enforcement academy, nor in a field training program. The two-year experience requirement starts the day the applicant was certified for solo patrol status.
• Valid Driver's License.
• Must agree to comply with all requirements of the position, including providing copies of any requested employment related materials or other documents to confirm or verify information, and have the ability to pass all examination and training requirements. 

Lateral Entry Candidate Screening and Application Period:

APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED AS RECEIVED; candidates with desirable knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and other qualifications may be contacted prior to the application deadline for interview; early application is encouraged.

• Final application deadline is 5:00 PM, Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
• There is one (1) immediate vacancy to be filled through the lateral entry process.
• There is no guarantee of an interview or further consideration for candidates submitting an application. Inclusion in any lateral entry candidate pool shall be based upon the relative excellence of the candidates reflecting qualifications at or above the stated minimum qualifications. 

Selection Process:

An offer of employment is contingent on passing all required screenings and examinations.

• Selected candidates will be invited to participate in an oral interview conducted by an interview committee comprised of police department command staff.
• Upon recommendation by the interview committee, qualified candidates may receive a conditional offer of employment and participate in additional post-offer screenings and examinations, including, but not limited to:
• psychological evaluation
• character and background investigation
• credit check
• medical examinations
• drug screening
• Candidates must receive a satisfactory evaluation or recommendation on each screening or examination in order to proceed in the selection process.
• Failure to achieve a satisfactory evaluation on any screening or examination shall result in immediate disqualification from further consideration.
• Candidates that satisfactorily complete all post-offer screenings will be interviewed by the Police Commission as the final step in the selection process. The Police Commission shall have final approval for the hiring of any lateral police officer candidate.
• Newly hired Lateral Police Officers are subject to a probationary period as defined by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. 

Application packets are available at:

https://sites.google.com/view/whemplymenmt/police-department

OR

The following location:

Winthrop Harbor Police Department

830 Sheridan Road

Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096

Monday through Friday

8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

The application packet consists of a Village of Winthrop Harbor Employment Application form and an Authorization to Release Information form.

Please apply with the following documents to receive consideration:

• Signed employment form and authorization to release information
• A copy of your Birth Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization
• A copy of your High School Diploma or GED Certificate
• A copy of your Driver's License
• A copy of your U.S. Military DD-214 form, if applicable
• A copy of your certificate of completion of Illinois Basic Law Enforcement Academy Training 

Return application materials to:

Winthrop Harbor Police Department

OR

By email at:

avelardi@whpd.org

Applications and required documentation must be received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

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