A. Examination Required; Disqualifications; Removal: All applicants for a position in either the fire or police department of the village, under thirty five (35) years of age, shall be subject to examination, which shall be public, competitive, and at a cost of twenty five dollars ($25.00) to reimburse the village for its costs of administration, and shall be subject to reasonable limitations as to residence, health, habits and moral character. No person with a record of misdemeanor convictions except those under 720 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/11-6, 5/11-7, 5/11-9, 5/11-14, 5/11-15, 5/11-17, 5/11-18, 5/11-19, 5/12-2, 5/12-6, 5/12-12 et seq., 5/14-4, 5/16-1, 5/21-1.3, 5/24-3.1, 5/24-5, 5/25-1, 5/28-3, 5/31-1, 5/31-4, 5/31-6, 5/31-7, 5/32-1, 5/32-2, 5/32-3, 5/32-4, 5/32-8, and subsections 1, 6 and 8 of 720 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/24-1 of the Illinois criminal code 1 , or arrested for any cause but not convicted thereon shall be disqualified from taking the examination to qualify for a position in the fire department on grounds of habits or moral character. Pursuant to the village's home rule powers, as provided by article VII, section 6 of the 1970 Illinois constitution, the age limitation exceptions, as provided for in 65 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/10-2.1-6(d), shall not be applicable in determining an individual's eligibility to apply for an entry level position in either the fire or police department of the village.
Applicants who are twenty (20) years of age and who have successfully completed two (2) years of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university may be considered for appointment to active duty with the police department. Any such applicant who is appointed to active duty shall not have power to arrest, nor shall he be permitted to carry firearms, until he reaches twenty one (21) years of age. Applicants who are eighteen (18) years of age and who have successfully completed two (2) years of study in fire techniques, amounting to a total of four (4) high school credits, within the cadet program of a municipality may be considered for appointment to active duty with the fire department of the village. The examinations shall be practical in character and relate to those matters which will fairly test the capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties of the positions to which they seek appointment. No person shall be appointed to the police or fire department if he does not possess a high school diploma or an equivalent high school education. The examinations shall include tests of physical qualifications and health. No person shall be appointed to the police or fire department if he has suffered the amputation of any limb unless the applicant's duties will be only clerical or as a radio operator. No applicant shall be examined concerning his political or religious opinions or affiliations. The examinations shall be conducted by the board of fire and police commissioners of the village as hereinafter provided.
No person who is classified by his local selective service draft board as a conscientious objector, or who has ever been so classified, may be appointed to the police department.
No person shall be appointed to the police or fire department unless he is a person of good character; not a habitual drunkard, drug addict, gambler, or a person who has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. However, no person shall be disqualified from appointment to the fire department because of such person's record of misdemeanor convictions except those under 720 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/11-6, 5/11-7, 5/11-9, 5/11-14, 5/11-15, 5/11-17, 5/11-18, 5/11-19, 5/12-2, 5/12-6, 5/12-12 et seq., 5/14-4, 5/16-1, 5/21-1.3, 5/24-3.1, 5/24-5, 5/25-1, 5/28-3, 5/31-1, 5/31-4, 5/31-6, 5/31-7, 5/32-1, 5/32-2, 5/32-3, 5/32-4, 5/32-8, and subsections 1, 6 and 8 of 720 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/24-1 of the Illinois criminal code 2 , or arrest for any cause without conviction thereon. Any such person who is in the department may be removed on charges brought and after a trial as hereinafter provided.
A waiver of the examination fee will be granted to any applicant who attests in writing that the imposition of said fee will result in a financial hardship. If any individual, for which the examination fee is waived, is appointed by the village, said individual shall reimburse the village for the twenty five dollar ($25.00) examination fee within ninety (90) days after being appointed.
B. Notice: Notice of the time and place of every examination shall be given by the board by a publication at least two (2) weeks preceding the examination, in one or more newspapers published in the village.
C. Exemptions: Any member of the police department who has held a position in the police department for not less than one year prior to May 25, 1954, shall become a member of the classified service of the police department without examination.
D. Educational Requirements: Notwithstanding anything set forth in subsection A of this section, pursuant to the village's home rule powers, as provided by article VII, section 6 of the 1970 Illinois constitution, all applicants for entry level positions in either the fire or police department of the village shall have the required education as set forth below:
1. Firefighters: Each firefighter applicant, as a minimum training and educational requirement, shall:
a. Possess and maintain a valid CPAT (candidate physical ability test) card with ladder climb endorsement which is current as of the date of filing the application for employment.
b. Possess License from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as an EMT- Paramedic at the date and time of hire.
c. In lieu of IDPH EMT-Paramedic license, A firefighter applicant may possess a National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic (NREMT-P) certification.
(1) The applicant shall be legally eligible for licensure as a State of Illinois EMT-Paramedic at the date and time of hire.
(2) NREMT-P Certification shall be current and valid with continuing education requirements maintained.
(3) The Fire Chief shall have the additional duty to both verify and certify that the applicant's NREMT-P Certification is official, current and valid at the date and time of hire.
d. Possess Certification from the Illinois Office of State Fire Marshal as a Basic Operations Firefighter (BOF) or Firefighter II at the date and time of hire.
e. If firefighter applicant has completed training and education but does not possess certification as Illinois OSFM Basic Operations Firefighter.
(1) Possess Certificate of Completion, from accredited fire academy, college or university for all Illinois OSFM Basic Operations Firefighter (BOF) requirements.
(2) This requirement includes, but is not limited to: training, education, passing scores on all OSFM BOF written and practical examination requirements, Co-Requisite course completion for the Illinois OSFM Basic Operations Firefighter (BOF) at the date and time of hire.
(3) The Fire Chief shall have the additional duty to both verify and certify that the applicant's Certificate of Completion of BOF requirement is both official and valid at the date and time of hire.
2. Police Officers: Each police officer applicant, as a minimum educational requirement, shall have successfully completed at least sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter hours of credit at an accredited college or university as of the date of filing the application for employment. This requirement will be waived for candidates who have completed four (4) years of active duty with an honorable discharge in the U.S. military and/or candidates who meet the criteria of the board's lateral transfer policy. (1951 Code 2-9-6, 2-9-7, 2-9-9; Ords. 84-26-79, 86-3-9, 89-2-5, 96-9-44, 98-7-28, 98-9-44A, 98-9-44B, 08-26-90, 11-10-10, 22-18-57)
Notes
| 1 | 1. 720 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq. |
| 2 | 1. 720 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq. |