PoliceLink

That is a good question. I know down here you have a few small communities that have good benefits and salaries that are admirable. Shiloh, O'fallon, Madison City, Madison County Sheriffs dept. and a few more. Financially if you want to make money, East Saint Louis, the work environment is deplorable but the money can be outrageous.

This maybe prejudice, but I would look at Joliet Police, Illinois. The starting salary is around $40,000 and after three years your at about $65,000. Excellent benefits, health and dental paid for by employer. We also have educational reimbursement. Vast opportunites in all areas of police work such as narcotics, neighborhood policing, investigation, evidence, traffic etc.

I know this is an old topic but what the hell.

I have looked into the ILLSP and as far as pay and benns- health, med , vac, training, they're competitive. I have talked with an SP officer who told me that it took years to get on the Dept and that ILLSP is the hardest department in the state to get on with as far as hiring requirements.

Joliet PD.....of the 300 members of the department, half were police officers from other towns (Chicago PD, Cook, Will and McHenry County Sheriffs, Algonquin PD, Naperville PD, Park Forest PD, Morton Grove PD, Harvey PD, Blue Island PD, Richton Park PD, Lockport PD, Shorewood PD, Plainfield PD, Braidwood PD, Midlothian PD, Channahon PD, Sauk Village PD, Glendale Heights PD, Palos Park PD, Crete PD, Dallas TX PD, and a lot more. Lots of growth still, any type of neighborhood you want to work in (rich to poor), 2 riverboat casinos, minor league baseball, and NASCAR and NHRA tracks. Take home squads, side jobs sponsored by the PD, all equipment issued (pistol & bp vest too), and numerous units to go into. Check out our salary: jolietfop DOT com. We ain't telling fish stories about our salary. If you're going to be frustrated in a police job, might as well be paid well for it. $42K to start, $86K after 12 years.