DeKalb, IL – Lateral Police Officer

The City of DeKalb is accepting applications for the position of Lateral Police Officer to fill immediate openings!

The DeKalb Police Department consists of 75 sworn and 29 civilian personnel. The department consists of four divisions: Patrol, Administrative Services, Community Support Services, and Investigations. The Department is staffed with a Chief, a Deputy Chief, 4 Commanders, 12 Sergeants, 57 Police Officers, and 2 Contracted Social Workers that responded to 44,027 calls for service in 2025.

The department has a lot to offer including bike patrol, motorcycle unit, K-9, special operations group (SOT), drug and gang unit, school resource officers, domestic violence unit, community policing and CIT officers. The City of DeKalb is located 60 miles west of Chicago and 30 miles southeast of Rockford. We are the home of Northern Illinois University. For a comprehensive overview of the department, please view the Annual Report 2025.

The 2026 salary range for the position is $86,299-$116,001. Placement within the range is based on experience. Please see FOP CBA.

Candidates must:

• Certification as a full-time Permanent Police Officer as defined in 50 ILCS 705/1, et seq by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
•  Be at least 21 years old and under the age of 41 years of age if currently a Certified State of Illinois Police Officer (full-time). Proof of birthdate is required.
• Have a High School diploma or equivalent.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• US Citizen
•  No felony convictions and or crime involving moral turpitude as specified in Section 5/10-2.1-6 Part C of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Act.
•  Must pass psychological and medical examinations, and a drug screen, including cannabis (at conditional offer)

We Offer:

• Current Schedule – 4 10-hour shifts
• Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Police Pension
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Sick, & Holiday Pay
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 plan) with Match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Clothing Allowance
• Wellness Program

Please click the link to view the full recruitment brochure, hiring and residency requirements, timeline, and application instructions.

Initial Review of Applications to begin on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Applications will then be reviewed on the 1st Monday of each month.

The City of DeKalb is an Equal Opportunity Employer