FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does Bartlett have an educational requirement?

Yes. A high school diploma or general education diploma (G.E.D.) is required. Additional educational and military preference points may be awarded pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-8 and 65 ILCS 5/2.1-9(a).

Does Bartlett have  a residency requirement?

No. Bartlett police officers are allowed to live anywhere in the State of Illinois. The more important point is getting to work on time and ready to start your shift.

Does Bartlett have a restriction on tattoos or body piercings, etc.?

Yes. Body piercing, other than ear piercing, must not be visible. Intentional branding and/or scarring are PROHIBITED and MAY NOT be covered with bandages, makeup or additional clothing while wearing a short-sleeved uniform. Restrictions are also in place for hair styles, facial hair, and any facial modifications that deviate from conventional anatomical features such as earlobe gauges, sub-dermal implants, tongue piercing, etc. 

Visible tattoos are permitted except on the head, neck, face, ears, fingers and hands. Lower arm tattoos may extend down no further than a line around the circumference of the wrist measured at the wrist bone (the prominent head of the ulna as it meets the wrist below the little finger). Tattoos that are prejudicial to good order and discipline, or that are of a nature to bring discredit upon law enforcement, are prohibited.  Examples include, but are not limited to, tattoos that are drug-related, gang-related, extremist, obscene or indecent, sexist, or racist. Prospective employees shall provide information on all of their tattoos to include the location and the nature of the tattoos.  The Chief of Police or his/her designee will make the final determination, in accordance with Department policy, as to whether an applicant’s tattoo(s) complies with Department policy.

Does Bartlett have a program for lateral transfers of certified officers?

Yes. At its discretion, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners may also create a separate, stand-alone Certified Eligible Lateral Register, which is limited to persons who are currently full-time sworn officers of a regularly-constituted police department in any municipality, county, university, or State law enforcement agency, provided they have been certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.  To qualify for this Register, these applicants must also: (1) be in good standing with his/her current law enforcement agency; (2) have served at least one year with that law enforcement agency beyond the completion of his/her probationary period; (3) possess skills and abilities that are substantially equivalent to those possessed by a non-probationary Village of Bartlett police officer; and (4) possess all of the qualifications described in Section 3 of Chapter II and are not disqualified pursuant to Section 4 of Chapter II of these Rules and Regulations.

If I am a certified officer, do I start at a higher rate of pay?

No. The same starting salary applies to all new police officer appointments.

What are the minimum qualifications to apply?

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of the application as permitted by 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.

• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of their original appointment and have not reached their 35th birthday as of the last date that applications are due. Applicants will be exempt from the age-35 hiring requirement at permitted by 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6(a) & (d) and 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-14, as those statutory Sections may be amended from time to time.

• Applicants must possess a high school diploma or equivalent at the time of application.

• Every applicant must be of good moral character, and physically and psychologically able to perform the essential job functions of the applied-for position, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of hire.

• Applicants must be legally capable of obtaining an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card.