Illinois Conservation Police Employment

Thank you for your interest in ILLINOIS CONSERVATION POLICE. The Department of Natural Resources has a web site which contains all of the important information needed for hiring. Here is a direct copy of that information as found on IDNR web page. None of this information is unique to Lodge #146.

If you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact the following:

Concerning Eligibility Requirements for Various State of Illinois employment positions (CMS Career Counselor Locations & Numbers)

In accordance with the Illinois Supreme Court Decision issued April 24, 1997, the Department of Natural Resources ensures compliance with all hiring procedures regarding Veteran's Preference

In accordance with an Executive Order issued by the Governor, preference for employment shall be extended to citizens of the State of Illinois when the qualifications of residents and non-residents applying for State positions are substantially equal.

An Applicant may schedule an appointment with the nearest CMS Career Counselor (out of five locations as listed above); and have a completed copy of his/her Employment Application reviewed by the Career Counselor to determine: (1) which positions the Applicant is eligible to apply for; and/or (2) whether the Applicant meets the eligibility requirements for the position of Illinois Conservation Police Officer Trainee

Concerning questions about the hiring process, training programs, and job duties.

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source's civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175.

Pursuant to the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (20 ILCS 805/805-535) as amended on January 1, 2002 applicants for the position of Conservation Police Officer Trainee must meet the following minimum professional standards:

(1) At the time of hire, the person must hold (i) a 2-year degree and 3 consecutive years of experience as a police officer with the same law enforcement agency or (ii) a 4-year degree.

(2) The person must possess the skill level and demonstrate the ability to swim at a competency level not less than that established by the American Red Cross for skills equivalent to an intermediate level swimmer.

(3) The person must successfully obtain certification as a police officer under the standards in effect at that time unless that person already holds that certification and must also successfully complete the Conservation Police Academy training program, consisting of not less than 400 hours of training, within one year of hire.

NOTE: The Department of Natural Resources is in the process of adopting an administrative rule listing those disciplines that qualify as directly related areas of study, as well as listing the American Red Cross recommended standards and testing points for a skill level equivalent to an intermediate level swimmer.

A State of Illinois CMS Employment Application (CMS 100) must be completed for the position of "Conservation Police Officer Trainee", and filed with the Department of Central Management Services (CMS). This application will remain on file for a period of one year, and each applicant will be notified by CMS in advance of the next examination date (should one be scheduled within the time frame that said application is valid). Should the examination not be given within a one year time period it is the individual's responsibility to submit a new application to CMS.

The Department of Central Management Services (CMS) administers a written examination for the position of CPO Trainee. This examination tests the following: observation and memory; public relations; writing skills; and reading comprehension. CMS schedules the actual testing dates, locations, and times, upon request of this department. The examination is usually scheduled at all five of the CMS testing centers (Chicago, Springfield, Champaign, Rockford, and Marion). The names of those individuals who have successfully passed the written examination will be placed on an eligibility list which remains in effect for a period of one year from date of test.

Applicants selected from the eligibility list are invited to Springfield, Illinois, to participate in a POWER test. This test is designed to assess aerobic capacity (1.5-mile run), strength (bench press), muscular endurance (one-minute sit-ups), and flexibility (sit & reach test). Applicants must pass all four tests to continue in the hiring process. What are the standards? (8 pages - pdf format)

During the selection process, applicants will be asked to sign an Agreement for Reimbursement (3 pages - pdf format), in which the applicant agrees to reimburse the Department of Natural Resources for some expenses unless the applicant remains in employment as a CPO Trainee/CPO for at least 36 months.

An oral interview is scheduled for those who pass the POWER test. The interview will help to assess communication skills, knowledge and abilities, and to ascertain the applicant's qualifications for the job.

Top candidates from the interviews will be invited to participate in a swim test. This test is designed to determine if the applicant has the ability to swim at a skill competency level not less than that established by the American Red Cross for skills equivalent to an intermediate level swimmer.

Background investigations, which are designed to assist in measuring the applicants' suitability for law enforcement and employment as a CPO Trainee, are conducted.

Taking into consideration the oral interview and the background investigation data, the Director of the Office of Law Enforcement offers the position of Conservation Police Officer Trainee to those candidates he considers to be the best suited for the job. This is contingent, however, upon successful completion of a psychological assessment conducted by a police psychologist and medical exam conducted by a physician. Once the candidate has officially been offered the job, he/she is scheduled for a psychological assessment to determine the applicant's emotional stability and suitability for employment as a peace officer (via psychological tests and interviews) and a doctor's examination to make certain that his/her physical condition is adequate to complete the strenuous Academy training and to perform essential job-related tasks.

The newly hired PCPOs must attend a total of 22 weeks in two separate Academy training programs in Springfield.

* The first is a ten-week program mandated by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board entitled the "400-Hour Basic Law Enforcement Course". The curriculum prepares the recruit to function as a peace officer and focuses upon human behavior, pertinent Illinois' statutes, patrol techniques and investigations, police proficiency skills, and traffic enforcement.

* The second program is a twelve-week basic Conservation Police Officer Trainee Course that we administer ourselves to prepare the recruit peace officer to function as a Conservation Police Officer (CPO) in Illinois. The 450-hour curriculum focuses primarily upon Conservation-related topics, such as: wildlife enforcement; sport and commercial fisheries enforcement; watercraft safety equipment, registration, operation, and accident investigation; snowmobile laws; operation of watercraft and snowmobile under the influence laws; IDNR Administrative Rules & Regulations, licenses and permits; state park and site regulations; endangered species protection; timber buyers and forest products transportation acts; applicable U.S. Fish & Wildlife laws; commercial establishments; officer survival; and enforcement techniques, procedures, and proficiency skills.

[Image] Training CPO's on fishing regulations

* Upon completion of the two Academic Programs, PCPOs are assigned to rotating field locations within the state and receive five months of "on-the-job" training by working with veteran officers (called the Field Training Officer's Program or FTO Program).

* At the beginning, the PCPO functions as the "observer" with the FTO performing the enforcement duties. As the weeks pass, the roles reverse with PCPO taking over more and more of the enforcement duties as the FTO observes his/her progress. The FTO provides daily guidance to assure specific training tasks are completed, and formally records and evaluates the PCPO's job performance each day.

* The PCPO is in a trainee status for 12 months, followed by four more months on probation before being certified as full-fledged CPO.

Today, although CPOs have full police authority in the enforcement of all Illinois Compiled Statutes, their enforcement mission is to focus upon those laws and activities associated with natural resource protection and recreational safety. Examples of the duties include:

* patrolling on Illinois lakes and rivers to check boating safety equipment and watercraft [Image] CPO checking snowmobilers

registration

* enforcing the fish and wildlife laws (checking hunters, trappers, sport and commercial fishermen for licenses, fish & game size/possession limits, season dates and hours, etc.)

* enforcing timber buyers and forest products transportation laws; endangered species laws; snowmobile registration and operation laws; Federal fish & wildlife laws; commercial establishments (e.g fur buyers, taxidermists, fish markets) and Departmental (DNR) Administrative Rules & Regulations.

Not all of the duties involve enforcement. A CPO's workload involves non-enforcement activities, such as:

* staffing information booths at major sports, travel or boating expositions, or during "Law Enforcement Career Days" at specific colleges/universities/high schools in Illinois

* assisting other law enforcement agencies, or to help in certain emergency/rescue situations

* providing instruction to other police agencies in certain "Conservation type" laws or related enforcement procedures

* working with college students who earn credit hours in an internship program, by working with veteran Conservation Police Officers to learn about the duties and responsibilities

* attending various in-service type training programs such as: legal and legislative updates, first aid/CPR refreshers, and officer survival training (self defense and use of firearms); and specialized schools (such as forensics, commercial establishments, sonar use, waterfowl enforcement, interview & interrogation schools, DUI and OUI enforcement [operating watercraft while under the influence alcohol or drugs], accident investigation [boating/hunting], etc.).

Salary & Benefits: Paid twice each month from the first day at the Academy with annual increases in monthly salary; paid vacation days, sick days, personal days, and holidays; overtime compensation; uniforms, equipment, and vehicle furnished; life and hospitalization insurance provided. Currently our CPO starting salary is $2288/month; after a one year CPO certification the salary increases to $3064/month.

Pension Plan: Excellent retirement/pension plan; to qualify for pension payments, an officer must be 50 years of age and have at least 25 years of service, or be 55 years of age with at least 20 years of service; 80 percent maximum retirement after 320 months of creditable service.

Work Schedule: Officers work the hours of highest activity, which varies from season to season, as assigned by their supervisors. CPOs are assigned to a progressive day-off schedule (e.g. Week #1, Thursday and Friday off; Week #2, Friday-Sunday off; Week #3, Saturday-Monday off; Week #4, Monday and Tuesday off; Week #5, Tuesday and Wednesday off, etc.).

Field Placement & Transfers: Must be willing to relocate anywhere in the state following completion of the Academy and FTO Programs. Transfers are contingent upon geographic openings and operational necessity of the Office of Law Enforcement.

Specialized Duties: CPO's may volunteer for specialized training allowing them to participate as: Office of Law Enforcement Instructors, Firearms Program Range Personnel, Officer Survival/Defense Tactics Program Personnel, Undercover Investigations, Sonar and/or Forensics Officers, Academy Advisors, Field Training Officers, etc.

Promotional Opportunities: Contingent upon vacancies becoming available within the rank structure.