In accordance with Section 5-1-1.1(F) hereinabove, eligible police applicants who have been employed for at least two (2) year as a full-time, sworn officer of a regular police department in any municipal, county, state or Federal law enforcement agency, and who have been certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board or who are qualified to take the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board "Out of State Reciprocity" examination (a "lateral hire"), may be hired by the Chief of Police, pursuant to this Section 5-1-14. Whether to employ a police officer utilizing this Section 5-1-14, rather than Section 2-4-6 of the Willowbrook Municipal Code, shall be determined on a rotating basis by resolution by the Village Board of Trustees, with the first employment of a police officer after the adoption of this Section to be accomplished by utilizing the procedures set forth in this Section 5-1-14, and the second employment of a police officer to be accomplished by the Board of Police Commissioners, as provided by Section 2-4-6 of this Code, and continuing such rotation thereafter. Notwithstanding the above, at any time, the Village Board of Trustees may deviate from such rotation and direct that either the provisions of this Section 5-1-14 or the provisions of Section 2-4-6 of this Code be utilized for the employment of a police officer(s).
(A) Each applicant for lateral hire shall, in addition to the eligibility requirements set forth in paragraphs (B) through (E) of Section 5-1-1.1 of this Code:
1. Agree to comply with all requirements of the position and have the ability to pass all examinations and training requirements.
2. Be in good standing with the agency in which the applicant currently serves or has separated from in good standing, with no adverse employment action.
3. Be eligible to be granted a waiver of basic training from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board (ILETSB).
4. Be able to furnish, upon request, a copy of the following, to the extent applicable: a resume; professional licenses; training certificates; documents confirming work experience; birth certificate; high school diploma or GED certificate; transcripts of higher learning; naval or military service board and discharge papers (DD-214/Copy 4); last two (2) employee evaluations; two (2) police reports demonstrating best work and any other employment related material as requested or required.
5. Agree to comply with all requirements regarding Tattoos and Body Art Restrictions contained in the Rules and Regulations of the Willowbrook Police Department.
(B) The process for making a lateral hire pursuant to Section 5-1-1.1 of the Code shall be as follows:
1. The Police Department shall publish a notice for candidates to submit an application for lateral hire. The application period shall remain open indefinitely, until a deadline is published by the Chief of Police.
2. Upon application, each applicant will be subjected to a written examination, and candidates will be ranked by their scores on the written examination.
3. The Chief of Police shall periodically select a number of applicants (the number to be determined by the Chief of Police) based upon the order of ranking following the written examination, for the purpose of submitting to an oral interview.
4. Qualified applicants who pass the oral interview shall be placed in a lateral hire candidate pool. Candidates in the lateral hire candidate pool that is established will be ranked and appear in the order of the candidates' scores on the written examination. The Chief of Police may periodically add names to the lateral candidate pool following their passing the oral interview, with all members of the pool ranked based upon their ranking following the written examination.
5. A copy of the lateral hire candidate pool shall be posted in a prominent location in the Police Department. Candidates will be removed from the lateral hire candidate pool one year after the date of first posting of their name in the list of candidates in the pool. Whenever the lateral hire candidate pool falls below three (3) candidates, the process for adding new lateral hire candidates to the pool, as set forth in paragraph (B) hereinabove, shall be commenced, provided that any applicants who remained in the lateral hire candidate pool when it fell below three (3) candidates shall remain on the updated lateral hire candidate pool, without the need to reapply for the remainder of one year from the date of their first posting on the lateral hire candidate list. Any candidates who were members of the lateral hire candidate pool upon expiration of their one year eligibility shall be required to reapply for eligibility to become a lateral hire candidate for any updated lateral hire candidate pool.
6. The Chief of Police shall have the authority to select a candidate from the top three (3) candidates in the lateral hire candidate pool. The selection shall be based upon the relative excellence of the applicants, their qualifications, the needs of the Department, and the applicant's experience, as determined by the Chief of Police.
7. The selected candidate shall then be subject to a background investigation, which may include a polygraph examination.
8. If the candidate passes the background investigation, then a conditional offer of employment to such lateral hire candidate shall be made, subject to the candidate's successful completion of post-offer examinations, which shall include a psychological assessment, a medical examination, and a drug screening.
(Ord. 20-O-41, 9-14-2020; amd. Ord. 21-O-38, 8-9-2021; Ord. 24-O-09, 3-25-2024)