Lateral Officer

About the Program

The City of Rockford Police Department has established its lateral entry program for qualified sworn police officers. The department is looking for individuals who represent the diversity of thought and experiences that are shared by our citizens. Candidates must have strong verbal communication, interpersonal and writing skills, and should possess common sense and problem‑solving ability. The Rockford Police Department lateral entry program includes training and orientation which consists of in‑house city school for up to seven weeks depending on experience.

Training will be conducted with respect to your current status as an experienced police officer. Rockford Police lateral candidates must meet all of the requirements for entry‑level Rockford Police Officer and must possess a valid Illinois Law Enforcement Officer certificate from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Lateral candidates must complete all testing deemed necessary by the Rockford Fire and Police Commission.

The Department will take out‑of‑state Lateral Officers as well. Must meet all the same standards. A newly hired individual that is certified as a law enforcement officer shall be paid the appropriate Pay Step for previous years of law enforcement service up to a maximum of five (5) years. Starting pay is $73,175‑$84,586.

• Handle (emergency and non‑emergency) calls for service received by our Communications Center.
• Investigate and determine what type or if crimes have occurred.
• Make sound decisions using knowledge, training and experience.
• Positively interact with the public.
• Problem solve complex community issues and look for innovative solutions to reduce repeat calls for service.
• Properly enforce Federal, State and Municipal laws.

There are certain standards that an applicant must meet in order to become a Rockford Police officer which are summarized in this section. All qualifications for lateral police officers are set within the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, City of Rockford Ordinances Section 2.29 and all applicable statutes. Please visit  for a complete list of qualifications and disqualifications.

2.1A Lateral Entry Requirements:
The Police Department will accept lateral applicants for original appointment who satisfy all of the requirements set forth in the Act, these Rules and Regulations and as follows:
(a) At the time of application, a lateral applicant must:
(i) be employed currently or have been employed within the preceding twelve (12) months as a certified full‑time officer with an Illinois law enforcement agency; or
(ii) be employed currently or have been employed within the preceding twelve (12) months as a certified full‑time police officer with an out‑of‑state municipal, county, or state law enforcement agency, provided that such an out‑of‑state lateral applicant also must meet the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board “Out of State Reciprocity” requirements as in effect from time to time.
(b) Applicants must have a certificate attesting to their completion of the minimum standards basic law enforcement training course, as provided in the Illinois Police Training Act. Proof of certification is required with application and will be subject to the final approval by Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
(c) Applicants must provide/attach a copy of their professional resume will be emailed to the recruiter at Recruiter.

Lateral applicants who are granted original appointment by the Commission shall be entitled to recognition for applicable previous law enforcement service as determined by the Police Department.

An applicant must not have ANY misdemeanor convictions within the last 3 years or have more than 3 moving violations within the last 3 years.

If you have been convicted of any of the listed offenses you cannot be a police officer in Rockford.

• ANY Felony – CHAPTER 720 ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES
• Indecent Solicitation of a Child (5/11‑6)
• Adultery (5/11‑7)
• Public Indecency (5/11‑9)
• Sexual Exploitation of a Child (5/11‑9.1)
• Prostitution (5/11‑14)
• Soliciting for a…