Lateral Police Officer

Pay

Annual Starting Salary Rate for Laterals (2026 Rates): $96,044.33 – $103,432.45 ($46.175 – $49.727/hr) based on experience and will move to the next pay scale at the completion of their probationary period of eighteen (18) months. Full Salary Range for Police Officer: $88,656.22 – $132,984.88.

About the role

A Police Officer is under general direct supervision of the Police Sergeant and Police Commander. The Police Officer is sworn to enforce all laws and ordinances for which the Department is responsible; to protect the lives and property of all persons; and to maintain peace and order within the City of Evanston. When required, the Police Officer will provide any service necessary for the furtherance of the Department’s mission and objectives, taking appropriate police actions within the limits of legal authority. The Police Officer will maintain professional decorum and display a proper attitude in all dealings with citizens, superiors and other department personnel, complying with orders, directives, policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the Evanston Police Department. Community involvement, networking and teamwork approaches in problem identification and solution are integral parts of the duties and responsibilities of all patrol officers.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify potential police hazards and problems and use problem-solving techniques to correct them.
• Focus on citizen satisfaction in all public dealings while performing official duties.
• Maintain regular contact with business and citizen groups within the assigned NBP beat to enhance positive communication.
• Participate in activities under the direction and coordination of the Police Sergeant or designee.
• Target proactive enforcement of traffic law violations to increase citizen satisfaction and address traffic-related problems.
• Obey all lawful orders of superiors regardless of assignment.
• Report for duty at the time and place specified by superior officers and remain on duty until properly relieved.
• Attend and testify in court at the applicable time and location.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of federal, state and local laws, statutes and ordinances to ensure legal compliance.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of judicial case laws in areas such as self-incrimination, right to counsel, arrest/search and seizure, interrogation and confessions, and evidence collection and preservation.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of department policies, procedures, rules, regulations and reference materials to ensure compliance with administrative and operational guidelines.
• Maintain appropriate weight and sound physical condition in accordance with department rules and regulations.
• Maintain uniform and personal appearance at a high standard to enhance the public image of the Department.
• Promptly and properly prepare and submit required reports resulting from any official assignment or investigation.
• Regularly review the department daily bulletin, crime analysis data and traffic data to ensure timely awareness of activity in the City.
• Attend training courses assigned by the Chief of Police to increase and enhance professional knowledge and skill levels.
• Use proper radio procedures, maintain radio discipline and promptly respond to all radio calls from the Communications Center.
• Observe proper safety standards and practices in the use of Department vehicles and equipment.
• Operate police vehicles within the assigned geographic area according to standard police techniques and strategies to deter and detect criminal activity.
• Investigate activities of suspicious persons as encountered or upon complaint using standard police techniques and legal requirements to determine identity, activity and reason for presence.
• Remain alert to the emergency needs of citizens and take appropriate action to protect life and property.
• Foster positive relationships with residents and merchants to develop rapport and enhance police-community relations.
• Issue citations for violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code and local ordinances as observed or determined, in conformance with legal requirements and department policies and procedures.
• Issue parking citations for identified violations according to legal requirements and department policies and procedures.
• Direct vehicular traffic as required to ensure safe, orderly flow.
• Assist disabled motorists to facilitate traffic flow, reduce hazards, prevent injury and enhance police-community relations.
• Identify and arrest motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in conformance with legal requirements and department policies and procedures.
• Conduct premise examinations of commercial and residential buildings using standard police procedures to protect property and prevent crimes.
• Interview and interrogate suspects in accordance with legal requirements and department policies and procedures using standard techniques to obtain information or confessions.
• Search individuals and their property prior to taking them into custody in compliance with legal requirements and department policies and procedures using standard search techniques.
• Incarcerate arrested persons as required in accordance with legal requirements and department policies and procedures using standard techniques to detain persons pending further investigation or processing.
• Intervene in domestic disturbances upon citizen complaint using standard police and socio-psychological techniques to restore order and prevent injury or loss of life.
• Disperse unruly gatherings as encountered or upon citizen complaint using standard crowd control techniques to restore order and protect life and property.
• Counsel juveniles and adults and, when appropriate, refer them to persons or agencies for further assistance.

Requirements

• Possess a high school diploma or GED and sixty (60) college credit hours.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record.
• Must not possess any felony or misdemeanor convictions in accordance with 50 ILCS 705/6.1.
• Possess a valid Illinois Firearm Owner Identification card.
• Be currently or recently (within the last 6 months) employed as a full-time sworn law enforcement officer in the State of Illinois and duly certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
• Have successfully passed a Law Enforcement agency’s probationary period for full-time sworn law enforcement officer.
• Be able to carry an Evanston Police Department approved firearm and successfully complete the Evanston Police Department Field Training Program.

Preferred qualifications

• Residency in Evanston, IL at the time of application.
• One year of active duty and honorable discharge from the military.

Skills

• Ability to read manuals (safety, instructional, etc.), professional journals, police department manuals including General Orders and SOPs and a variety of other reports.
• Ability to prepare work assignments, summaries and reports using prescribed format and conforming to rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style.
• Ability to give verbal direction to subordinates and to speak extemporaneously on a variety of subjects.
• Demonstrated ability to listen to and understand, anticipate resident needs and satisfy residents through timely response with information and action.
• Ability to take action to achieve established goals without constant supervisory direction.
• Ability to maintain a high activity or productivity level during sustained work hours.
• Ability to maintain effectiveness under pressure and relieve stress in an acceptable manner to the public, fellow employees and the organization.
• Ability to verbally present ideas effectively to individuals or groups.
• Ability to follow City and department rules, regulations and procedures surrounding safety; report all unsafe conditions and acts to the supervisor; report all accidents the same day.
• Ability to present information publicly with or without materials; gather information and accurately identify the cause of a problem in a timely manner.
• Ability to express ideas clearly in memos and letters using correct grammar, terminology and sentence structure, targeting the message to the audience.
• Ability to obtain topical information, identify important issues, compare data and identify cause-effect relationships; make timely decisions using judgment, take action when appropriate and commit to a position and implement a course of action.
• Ability to take actions that demonstrate consideration for the needs of others and the effect of one’s behavior on others; initiate action to achieve a recognized benefit when potential negative consequences are understood.
• Ability to work with others in the organization outside the line of formal authority to accomplish organizational goals and to identify and resolve problems; use interpersonal style to inspire subordinates, peers or superiors toward goal achievement; modify behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved.
• Ability to present alternatives to reach outcomes and gain support and acceptance of all parties.
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal style and communication methods to win acceptance of ideas.

Physical requirements

• Heavy work; exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knees).
• Crouching (bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine).
• Reaching (extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction).
• Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet).
• Fingering (picking, pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily).
• Handling (seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hands).
• Feeling (perceiving attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature or texture by means of receptors in skin, particularly those of fingertips).
• Climbing (ability to ascend or descend ladders, stairs, etc.).