Current Minimum Qualifications
Age: The minimum age requirement is 21 years of age. No person may be appointed as a probationary police officer after their 40th birthday (exceptions made for vampires, based on time of undeath). Proof of age must be provided at the time of application.
Driver's License: Applicants must present a valid driver's license at the time of application.
Education/Military Service: Applicants must have at least 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of credit from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies responsible for evaluating two and four year institutions that grant Associate's and Bachelor's degrees. Also acceptable are applicants with four years of continuous active duty in the armed forces of the United States or applicants who have completed 30 semester (or 45 quarter) hours from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies responsible for evaluating two and four year institutions that grant Associate's and Bachelor's degrees, and one year of continuous active duty in the armed forces of the United States.
Residency: Residency in the City of Chicago is required of all employees. Proof of residency will be required at the time of employment. Residency within Chicago is not required during the application and testing process.
Applicant must not have any of the disqualifying items listed below:
- Any felony charges or convictions
- Any discharge from the Armed Forces other than honorable
- Any charges or conviction of a crime involving Domestic Violence
- Any ailment (physical, mental, or magical) that would interfere with the course of their duties.
Beginning at the Training Academy
Successful applicants who are hired as Chicago Police Officers begin their careers at the Training Academy as Probationary Police Officers (PPOs). Each PPO must complete an 18-month probationary period and are compensated at the starting salary listed in the next section below.
Academy training consists of the 480 hour minimum course required by the Illinois Governmental Law Enforcement Training Board and 300 hours the Chicago Police Department includes to augment the basic training course.
Course topics include Human Behavior, Criminal Law, Traffic Law, Firearms and Drill Training, Physical Training, Department Administrative Systems and Operations, Policy and Procedures, Report Writing, Crime Investigation Procedures, Safety Practices, and many more.
- Starting yearly salary of $43,104, increased to $55,723 after one year and an additional increase to $58,896 after 18 months
“As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.
“I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life. I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
“I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear of favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
“I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve the objectives and ideals, dedication myself before God to my chosen profession …law enforcement.”
Structure
The Superintendent of Police leads the Chicago Police Department. The Superintendent manages five bureaus, each commanded by a Deputy Superintendent. The first deputy superintendent manages day-to-day operations, reporting directly to the superintendent.
There are twenty-five police districts, each led by a Commander who oversees their district. Commanders report to Area Deputy Chiefs who report to the Deputy Superintendent of Patrol who reports to the Superintendent of Police who in turn is subject to the authority of the Mayor of Chicago.
Chicago P.D. Ranks
- Superintendent of Police (Four Silver Five-Pointed Stars)
- First Deputy Superintendent (Three Silver Five-Pointed Stars)
- Deputy Superintendent (Two Silver Five-Pointed Stars)
- Chief (One Silver Five-Pointed Star) - Charles Hopkins (NPC)
- Assistant Deputy Superintendent (Silver or Gold Spread Eagle)
- Deputy Chief (Silver Oak Leaf)
- Commander (Gold Oak Leaf)
- Captain (Two Silver Bars)
- Requires: At least 7 years as a certified officer, at least 3 of them as a Lieutenant.
- Lieutenant, Inspector (One Silver Bar for Lieutenant) (An inspector wears the Lieutenant's uniform less any rank insignia)
- Requires: At least 5 years as a certified officer, at least 2 of them as a Sergeant.
- Sergeant (Three Chevrons)
- Requires: At least 3 years as a certified police officer and at least 1 of those years on the Chicago PD.
- Police Officer Assigned as Detective, Police Technician, Field Training Officer, Investigator, Gang Crime Specialist, Police Agent, Traffic Specialist, Marine Unit Officer, K-9 Officer
- Police Officer
As with other big-city departments, Chicago detectives are not considered ranking officers (IE: outranking standard Officers), but rather officers assigned to specialized units (EG: violent crimes, robbery, gang and narcotics, etc). Field Training Officers wear one chevron over one rocker, with "FTO" in the center of the insignia, but are also not considered ranking officers.
- Roughly, for every 100 (actually 103) cops:
- 60 Officers
- 20 Detective Officers
- 10 Sergeants
- 5 Detective Sergeants
- 5 Lieutenants
- 2 Detective Lieutenants
Jack Webb (speaking about his character, Joe Friday, on Dragnet)
"Few people remember that Friday was promoted toward the end of our run. We think it's better to have Joe a sergeant again. Few detective-lieutenants get out into the field."
For those who have watched Barney Miller:
Most of the cast were Detectives, with occasional Officers showing up (Officer Levitt often begrudged the detectives for being seemingly 'better' than himself and the other blue-shirts). Two of the six "office cast" (Yemana, typically doing paperwork and making bad coffee, and Chano, typically going undercover) were Sergeants, and Barney was a Captain. No Lieutenants were featured, between the two Sergeants and the one Captain.
For those who have watched Law & Order:
Most of the two-cop parings are Detectives, with a few Sergeants (Sgts. Greevey, Cerreta, and Munch), and the commanding officer is typically a Captain (except for Lt.Van Buren).
Law & Order Cast
Law & Order SVU Cast
Law & Order CI Cast
Insignia
While star-shaped badges are common among state and county law enforcement agencies in the United States, they are rare among municipal police forces outside of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Chicago's five-pointed star-shaped badge (referred to as "star" vice "badge" in the vernacular of the department) also changes to reflect the different castes of officers.
- The stars of most Chicago Police officers (patrolmen through captain) are of silver-coloured metal, with broad points.
- Command ranks have gold-coloured stars with sharp points.
- A ring surrounding the full-colour City seal in the star's centre changes colour for each rank within these two classifications.
- Like most American police forces, the officer's rank is written in an arc above the centre element.
The Chicago Police Department's shoulder sleeve insignia, worn on the top of the left sleeve, is unusual in two regards.
- Its shape is octagonal instead of one of the more typical shapes used by most other American police forces.
- The embroidery colours vary depending upon the wearer's rank.
- In all cases, the patch is a white octagon with a full-colour rendering of the city seal, ringed in gold, with "Chicago" written in an arc above the seal, and "Police" written in an arc below the seal.
- For patrolmen and detectives (detectives are occasionally uniformed for ceremonies and details), the octogon's outer edge is finished in dark blue thread, and the text is embroidered in dark blue thread.
- For sergeants, lieutenants and captains, the octogon's outer edge is finished in gold-coloured thread, and the text is embroidered in dark blue thread.
- For so-called "command ranks" (commander through superintendent), the octogon's outer edge is finished in gold-coloured thread, and the text is embroidered in gold-coloured thread.
Service longevity is reflected just above the left cuff on long-sleeved uniforms.
- Five years of service are indicated by a horizontal bar, embroidered in gold-coloured thread;
- Ten years by two bars;
- Fifteen by three bars;
- Twenty by a five-pointed star, embroidered in gold coloured thread;
- Twenty-five by one star and one bar, and so-forth.
An embroidered rendering of the Chicago flag, its borders finished in gold-coloured thread, is worn on the right shoulder sleeve.
A two-part nameplate in gold-coloured metal is worn above the right pocket.
- The upper portion bears the officer's name;
- The lower portion indicates the command to which the officer is assigned.
Police Awards
Structure and Organization
Laws
- Crimes - a list of Chicago crimes, crime codes, reporting table and "10" codes.
- Gun Control - restrictions on firearms for non-police
- RPIT - preternatural legal matters.
Procedures and Reports
A statute enacted in 1963 designed to eliminate commercial bail bond industry. See Schilb v. Kuebel, 264 N.E.2d 377, 380 (Ill. 1970), aff'd 404 U.S. 357 (1971); Ill. Stat. Ch. 725 §§ 5/110-7, 5/110-8. "No bail bondsman from any state may seize or transport unwillingly any person found in this State who is allegedly in violation of a bail bond posted in some other state." Ill. Stat. Ch. 725 § 5/103-9.
From: http://www.americanbailcoalition.com/new_html/Bounty%20Hunter%20Laws.htm
State Requirements (since April 1982)
Rifles and Shotguns
- Permit to purchase rifles and shotguns? FOID Required. *
- Registration of rifles and shotguns? No **
- Licensing of owners of rifles and shotguns? FOID Required. *
- Permit to carry rifles and shotguns? FOID Required. *
Handguns
- Permit to purchase handgun? FOID Required. *
- Registration of handguns? No.
- Licensing of owners of handguns? FOID Required. *
- Permit to carry handguns? No *
- Subject to municipal control. Handguns have been banned in some municipalities.
** Chicago requires registration of all firearms.
*** Carrying a concealed weapon is prohibited entirely. A FOID is required to transport a handgun. See "Carrying."
Purchase
A buyer is required to show his Firearms Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) when purchasing any firearms or ammunition. Any seller is required to withhold delivery of any handgun for 72 hours, and of any rifle or shotgun for 24 hours, after the buyer and seller reach an agreement to purchase a firearm.
The waiting period does not apply to a buyer who is a dealer, law enforcement officer, or a nonresident at a gun show recognized by the Illinois Department of State Police.
The seller must retain for 10 years a record of the transfer, including a description of the firearm (including serial number), the identity of the buyer, and the buyer’s FOID number.
A federally licensed dealer must contact the Department of State Police for a background check, for which there is a $2.00 fee. Any sales at gun shows, including dealers and private parties, must contact the state police for a background check.
Private parties selling firearms at gun shows must ensure the buyer has a FOID card and the buyer must undergo a background check. It is unlawful to sell or give any handgun to a person under 18, or any firearm to a person who is not eligible to obtain a FOID.
Requirements for Foid
Application for a FOID is made to the Illinois State Police, FOID, P. O. Box 19233, Springfield, IL 62794-9233. Application forms can be obtained online at http://www.isp.state.il.us or by calling the Firearm Owners IdentiAn applicant is entitled to a FOID if he:
- Is over 21 years of age. If under 21, he must have the written consent of his parent or guardian. In such case, the guardian himself must not be ineligible for a FOID, and the applicant must never have been convicted of a misdemeanor or adjudged a delinquent.
- Has never been convicted of a felony.
- Is not a narcotics addict.
- Has not been a patient in a mental hospital in the preceding five years.
- Is not mentally retarded.
- Is not an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States.
- Is not subject to an existing order of protection prohibiting the possession of a firearm.
- Has not been convicted within the past 5 years of battery, assault, aggravated assault, violation of an order of protection, or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction, in which a firearm was used or possessed.
- Has not been convicted of domestic battery or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction committed on or after January 1, 1998.
- Has not been convicted within the past five years of domestic battery or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction committed before January 1, 1998.
An applicant for a FOID must consent to the Department using the applicant's digital driver's license or Illinois ID card photograph, if available, and signature on the FOID, and must furnish the Department with his driver's license or Illinois ID card number.
The Department must approve or deny the FOID within 30 days and is authorized to deny the FOID only if the applicant does not meet the listed qualifications. The FOID is valid for five years from the date of issuance. The Department shall forward to each FOID holder, a notice of expiration and a renewal notice application, 60 days prior to expiration.
A FOID may be revoked and seized if the holder made a false statement on the application, is no longer eligible, or whose mental condition poses a clear and present danger to self, others, or community.
Possession
- It is unlawful to possess any firearm or ammunition without a valid FOID.
- It is unlawful for any person under the age of 18 to possess a handgun, or concealable firearm.
- It is unlawful for any person to possess any firearm with intent to use it unlawfully against another.
- It is unlawful to possess any rifle having one or more barrels less than 16" in length or a shotgun having one or more barrels less than 18" in length or any weapon made from a rifle or shotgun, if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches.
- It is unlawful to possess any firearm in any place licensed to sell intoxicating beverages, or at any public gathering (except a gun show) at which an admission is charged. An exception is provided for the owner, manager or an authorized employee of the establishments.
- It is unlawful for the following persons to possess a firearm or ammunition:
- Under 21 who has been adjudged delinquent or been convicted of a misdemeanor other than a traffic offense.
- Narcotic addicts.
- Within the past five years has been a patient in a mental hospital.
- Mentally retarded.
- Convicted felon.
- A person with a FOID card can loan a gun to a non-FOID card owner as long as the gun was used at a range and under the supervision of the owner.
- It is unlawful to possess firearms or ammunition at schools. Exempt include students in firearm training courses, parades, hunting, target shooting on school ranges.
Note: In Chicago it is unlawful to keep any firearm unless it has been registered with the Chicago Police.
Carrying (Residents Only)
It is unlawful to carry or possess any firearm in any vehicle or concealed on or about the person, except on one's land or or fixed place of business.
It is unlawful to carry or possess any firearm on any public street or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village, or incorporated town, except when: an invitee thereon or therein, for the purpose of the display of firearms or the lawful commerce in firearms.
Exceptions are persons using their firearms on established target ranges; licensed hunters, trappers, or fishermen while engaged in their licensed activity and/or transportation of firearms that are broken down in a non-functioning state or are not immediately accessible, and transportation, carrying, or possession of a firearm which is unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container, by the possessor of a valid FOID.
Under the Wildlife Code, it is unlawful to have or carry any firearm in or on any vehicle or conveyance unless unloaded and enclosed in a case.
Miscellaneous
It is unlawful for any person to store or leave a firearm if the person knows or has reason to believe that a minor under the age of 14 years who does not have a FOID is likely to gain access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, and the minor causes death or great bodily harm with the firearm, unless the firearm is:
- Secured by a device or mechanism, other than the firearm safety, designed to render a firearm temporarily inoperable, or
- Placed in a securely locked box or container, or
- Placed in some other location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure from a minor.
