How to Become a Deputy Sheriff in Illinois

Cook County
DuPage County
Kane County
Lake County
Will County

Cook County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department is responsible for providing law enforcement services throughout Cook County’s unincorporated areas to serve and protect the area’s 109,000 residents.

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DuPage County Sheriff Department Jobs

The DuPage County Sheriff Department serves as the chief law enforcement for all unincorporated areas of DuPage County, which includes about 104,000 residents. DuPage County is divided into nine townships, with the Patrol Division of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department responsible for responding to all primary calls within those townships. In addition, the DuPage County Sheriff Department is responsible for providing assistance to the municipal jurisdictions within the townships.

If you’re interested in available DuPage County Deputy Sheriff’s jobs and want to learn how to become a DuPage County Sheriff ‘s Deputy you must meet all minimum requirements and complete the hiring process as described below:

Meet all minimum requirements for DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Jobs
Submit an application for employment
Register to take the Deputy Sheriff exam
Be placed on the eligibility list
Complete screenings and testing as required by the Merit Commission
Achieve State Certification

Step 1. Verify you Meet Requirements for DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Jobs

Before you apply for employment with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department you must first determine you meet all minimum requirements for employment as set forth by the Sheriff’s Merit Commission. In particular, if you want to pursue DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Jobs, you must:

Be at least 21 when applying for a job
Be a United States citizen
Be a resident of Illinois
Be a resident within the County within one year of being appointed
Possess a valid Illinois driver’s license
Have no domestic violence criminal convictions
Have no dishonorable discharge from the U.S. military
Possess an associate’s degree or higher OR have completed at least 60 semester hours at an accredited university, college or junior college OR have United States military service OR served for at least 4 years as a full-time peace officer with a U.S. police department or sheriff’s office
Possess a high school diploma or GED

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment

Employment applications for DuPage County Sheriff Department are not available on the DuPage County Sheriff Department’s website. Instead, if you want to apply for DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Jobs you must contact the Sheriff’s Merit Commission at 630-407-6252 or at meritcommission@dupageco.org and ask about Deputy Sheriff’s positions.

You may also visit the Merit Commission Office in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:00PM).

Step 3. Register to Take the Deputy Sheriff Exam

During employment periods, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department website will post application and employment information regarding DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Jobs. All candidates must register to take the exam and pay a $30 fee for registration.

During a typical open application period, the Department limits the number of qualified candidates who can take the exam (usually 250), so it is important to apply for employment as soon as a position is posted.

Preliminary registration during employment periods is also available at the Department’s administrative building in Wheaton.

All qualified candidates, upon registration, are scheduled to take the written examination, which is also held at the JTK Administration Building.

Step 4. Be Placed on the Eligibility List

All candidates who successfully pass the written exam and meet all minimum requirements are then placed on an eligibility list. Select candidates are then chosen to complete the pre-employment process.

Step 5. Complete Screenings and Testing as Required by the Merit Commission

Candidates who are chosen from the eligibility list are required by the Merit Commission to successfully complete: a personal interview, background investigation, and any other screenings deemed necessary by the Commission.

Step 6. Achieve State Certification

All police officers in the State of Illinois must possess an Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board certification. You must receive your training through one of the Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training Academies in Illinois and become certified within one year of your date of hire with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department.

Kane County Sheriff Department

The Kane County Deputy Sheriff ‘s Department (630-232-6840) is responsible for enforcing traffic; responding to calls from the County’s Communication Center; patrolling unincorporated areas within Kane County; serving court documents; and transporting prisoners to the County Correction Center.

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Lake County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Lake County Deputy Sheriff’s Office (847-337-4000) is responsible for providing first responder police services, investigating criminal activity, and maintaining order to the more than 125,000 residents living in the unincorporated areas of Lake County and the 35,000 residents of municipalities that do not have their own dedicated police departments.

The Lake County Deputy Sheriff’s Office’s Operations Branch includes: the Highway Patrol; Criminal Investigations; Evidence/Photography Lab; 911 Communications; Major Crimes Task Force; the Marine Unit; and Emergency Management.

If you want to learn how to become a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy so as to be eligible for Lake County Sheriff Department jobs, follow this step-by-step guide:

Meet all minimum employment requirements
Submit an employment application
Take the written test
Take the Physical Agility test
Successfully complete all remaining testing
Receive a conditional offer of employment and pass physical examination
Become state certified

Step 1. Meet all Minimum Employment Requirements

Before you apply for Lake County Deputy Sheriff jobs you must ensure you meet the minimum requirements for employment as set forth by the Lake County Sheriff Merit Commission. In particular, you must:

Be at least 21 years of age
Be a United States citizen
Have at least 60 hours of college credit or an associate’s degree OR have served at least two years of active duty and honorable discharge from the U.S. military
Possess a valid driver’s license

Step 2. Submit an Employment Application

Download and complete a Lake County Sheriff’s Office Merit Commission application. The Merit Commission contacts all eligible candidates at the time of the next application process. If you want to transfer to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, you must complete the Deputy Sheriff Transfer application.

Copies of your college transcripts (when applicable) must accompany your completed application. All applications must be sent to:

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Merit Commission
20 South County Street, 2^nd floor
Waukegan, IL 60085-5534

You may also contact the Merit Commission at 847-377-2459 with any questions.

Step 3. Take the Written Test

All candidates contacted by the Merit Commission are required to pass a written test given by the Merit Commission. Only those individuals who pass the written test are allowed to take the Physical Agility test.

*The written test may be waived for certified officers or for those with at least two years of experience.

Step 4. Take the Physical Agility Test

Candidates who pass the Physical Agility test are asked to sit for an oral interview.

*The physical agility test may be waived for certified officers or for those with at least two years of experience.

Step 5. Successfully Complete all Remaining Testing

Candidates who successfully complete the Physical Agility Test are then eligible to complete all remaining testing, which includes a background investigation, a polygraph examination, a psychological examination, and an oral interview.

Step 6. Receive a Conditional Offer of Employment and Pass Physical Examination

Upon successfully completing all remaining testing by the Merit Office you may receive a conditional offer of employment, at which time you must undergo a thorough physical examination.

Step 7. Become State Certified

Upon being chosen for a Deputy Sheriff position with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office you must earn an Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board certification (or reciprocation certification if you are currently certified as an officer in another state).

You’ll then need to successfully complete training through one of the Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training Academies in Illinois within a year of being hired.

Will County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Will County Sheriff’s Office (815-727-8575) is responsible for providing law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of Will County, one of the fastest growing counties in not only Illinois, but the nation, as well. The Will County Sheriff’s Office provides enforcement/patrol services to the county and has a newly expanded detention facility that is capable of holding 1,000 inmates.

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