Position Details
Sworn, Law Enforcement Officer Certified only
The Forest Preserve District of Will County is accepting applications for full-time Union Patrol Officer.
To perform a variety of duties involved in the enforcement of laws and prevention of crimes; to control traffic flow and enforce State and local traffic regulations; to participate in and conduct a variety of criminal investigations; to provide a high level of customer service and integrate the community into policing activities; to participate in community based police activities and programs; and to perform a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of law enforcement services and activities.
The work of this position involves responsibility for the protection of life and property, and prevention of crime, apprehension of criminals and the general enforcement of State laws, Conservation laws and local ordinances in a designated area on an assigned shift or on special assignments.
Duties normally consist of routine patrol, preliminary investigation, and traffic regulations which may be performed in squad cars or on foot.
The work involves an element of personal danger, and the employee must be able to act without direct supervision and to exercise independent judgment in meeting emergencies.
Applications will be available from February 17, 2026, until March 2, 2026.
Candidates must be able to pass polygraph and psychological examinations.
Lateral candidates must be able to provide a POWER card if requested.
Advantages of working at the Forest Preserve District of Will County:
Join the team at the Forest Preserve District of Will County Police Department, where your office is a breathtaking landscape of pristine forest preserves, serene lakes, and winding trails. We are dedicated to protecting and enhancing Will County’s natural and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations while ensuring a safe, welcoming environment for visitors to explore, hike, and reconnect with nature.
We are seeking a proactive, community-focused Law Enforcement Officer to join our Police Department who will serve as an ambassador for the outdoors, balancing traditional law enforcement with environmental stewardship.
Why You’ll Love Working Here:
- No Graveyard Shifts: Enjoy a consistent schedule! Our patrol hours focus on when the forest preserves are active with no overnight/graveyard shifts.
- Your Office is the Great Outdoors: Your patrol area includes miles of scenic trails, woodlands, and waterways.
- Active and Diverse Patrols: In addition to the patrol vehicle, you have opportunities to patrol by ATV, bicycle, boat, or on foot.
- Make a Real Difference: Protect rare ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and historical sites while serving the community.
- Conduct high-visibility, proactive patrols to ensure visitor safety.
- Enforce environmental, state, and local ordinances to protect natural resources.
- Act as a positive, helpful ambassador to preserve users.
See attached Job Description outlining duties, skills, abilities, training, experience and working conditions, or visit www.reconnectwithnature.org for more information.
Job Description:
To perform general duty police work in the protection of life and property, enforcement of laws, and investigation of crimes; does related work as required.
Reports to: Police Sergeant
Supervises: None
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Perform a variety of duties involved in the enforcement of laws and prevention of crimes
- Control traffic flow and enforce State and local traffic regulations
- Participate in and conduct a variety of criminal investigations
- Provide a high level of customer service and integrate the community into policing activities
- Participate in community-based police activities and programs
- Perform a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of law enforcement services and activities
- The work of this position involves:
- Responsibility for the protection of life and property
- Prevention of crime
- Apprehension of criminals
- The general enforcement of State laws
- Conservation laws, and local ordinances in a designated area on an assigned shift or special assignments.
- Duties typically include:
- Routine patrol
- Preliminary investigation
- Traffic regulations
- Can be performed in squad cars or on foot
- May be assigned duties as detective, juvenile officer, field training officer, evidence technician, K-9 handler, bicycle patrol, etc.
- The work involves an element of personal danger, and the employee must be able to act without direct supervision and to exercise independent judgment when meeting emergencies.
- Patrols the FPDWC property throughout the county, either on foot, in an automobile, on a bicycle, or an ATV in a designated area
- Identifies violations of laws and local ordinances
- Participates in the guidance, training, and orientation of new officers and officers in training
- Attends regular training classes in police methods, first-aid, target practice, and other related duties
- Prepares and develops special reports and documents as requested
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Some geographical knowledge of Will County and the Forest Preserve District of Will County properties
- Some working knowledge of the common laws covering traffic and general behavior
- Ability to react quickly and calmly to emergency situations
- Ability to drive an automobile safely and efficiently
- Excellent physical condition
- Ability to pay close attention to audio and visual detail to identify violators and accurately describe crime scenes
- Ability to exercise good judgment to identify violations of the law and handle difficult situations
- Ability to operate vehicles safely for long periods of time and to patrol assigned areas
- Ability to physically subdue resistant violators
- Ability to effectively manage stressful situations
- Ability to document results of investigation to provide accurate descriptions of events
- Ability to proficiently use firearms
- Ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as climbing stairs and/or ladders, chasing fleeing suspects, lifting and carrying an injured person, etc.
- Serve as liaison and public relations officer for the assigned area; establish and preserve good relationships with the general public; may develop reliable informants and provide intelligence information to divisional and/or departmental personnel
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other District and County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service
- Interpret, apply, and make decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations
- Performs other duties as required or assigned
Training and Experience:
- Education: High School Graduate or GED equivalent.
Requirements:
- U.S. Citizen
- High School Graduate or GED equivalent
- Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record
- Specialized training or college-level coursework in law enforcement, criminal justice, or a related field is highly desirable. Some work experience that demonstrates a general aptitude for police work is desirable.
- Must be a graduate of a State of Illinois basic recruit academy and meet requirements for Illinois Law enforcement Trainings and Standards Board for Certified Police Officer or eligible to receive a waiver of training
- Must have experience as a sworn law enforcement officer
- Must hold a valid Firearm Owner’s ID
- Must not have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors, as defined by statue
- Must participate in and successfully complete all stages of testing process, which may include, but are not limited to:
- Extensive Background Investigation
- Credit Check
- Oral Interview
- Post-Offer psychological and drug test
Working Environment and Conditions:
Environment:
- Reactive emergency, natural or man-made disaster, and routine peacekeeping environments with travel from site to site
- Work in intense life-threatening conditions
- Exposure to dangerous persons, firearms, and communicable diseases
- The employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts
- Regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and wet and/or humid conditions
- Possibility to work in high, precarious places
- Exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration
- Exposed to potentially hostile environments
- Extensive public contact
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
- However, the noise level is occasionally very loud due to sirens, firearm training, etc.
Physical:
- Primary functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sufficient mobility to work in a law enforcement setting
- Restrain or subdue individuals
- Walk, stand, sit, or run for prolonged periods of time
- Occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
- Occasionally climb and maintain balance; regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry light to moderate weights
- Frequently lift and/or move moderate to heavy weights
- Occasionally lift and/or more heavy weights
- Operate law enforcement and general office equipment
- Requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, and gripping with hands and fingers
- Ability to communicate verbally to exchange information
- Ability to operate office equipment including use of computer keyboard
- Ability to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations
- Ability to operate firearms, knife and handcuffs
- See in the normal visual range with or without correction
- Vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment
- Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction, etc.
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
To Apply:
Application Procedure:
- Do not submit an application online, please pick up an application at the address below.
- Applicants will need to either pick up the application or drop it off in person while presenting a valid Driver's License and FOID card.
- Applications can be returned Monday – Friday by 3:00 PM
- A copy of the applicants' Law Enforcement Officer Certificate must be included in the returned application packet to be eligible for the position.
Application pickup:
Nicole Veerman, Police Office Manager
22606 S. Cherry Hill Road
Joliet, IL 60433
815-722-5473 (Desk)
815-727-5478 (Fax)
nveerman@fpdwc.org
Any questions, contact:
Veronica Frausto-Sarwark, HR
815-722-5669
vfrausto@fpdwc.org
Deputy Chief David Barrios Jr.
815-722-9347
dbarrios@fpdwc.org
The Forest Preserve District of Will County does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, or disability. In offering employment opportunities to the public, the Forest Preserve District will make reasonable modifications to ensure that all people have an equal opportunity.
To request this document in large print, audio, or Braille, contact the Superintendent of Public Affairs, Sugar Creek Administration Center, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL 60433; comments@fpdwc.org; 815.722.9383 (voice); 800.526.0844 (TDD). Requests should be made at least 48 hours in advance. While the Forest Preserve District of Will County will make every effort to meet requests in a timely fashion, some requests may take longer than others to fulfill. Persons believing that they have been discriminated against by the Forest Preserve District of Will County may file a complaint alleging discrimination with the Forest Preserve District or the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.doi.gov.
