IDNR Seeks Applicants for Potential Conservation Police Officers

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking applicants for the position of Conservation Police Officer Trainee.  While the Department is not yet hiring, it is offering this testing to develop an eligibility list of new Illinois Conservation Police recruits for 2013.

Applicant testing is scheduled for April 1-4 through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) Examining and Counseling Division.  Interested applicants should submit a CMS100 employment application to CMS which can be found online at www.work.illinois.gov.  Applicants should also review the hiring information contained on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, “Law Enforcement” website at www.dnr.illinois.gov, click on “Safety and Rules” and then “Law Enforcement.”

Conservation Police Officer Trainee is a state employment position title for which CMS does not test on a regular basis, so those interested in the position are encouraged to apply and participate in the testing scheduled for April 1-4th.  Reporting instructions to the exam will be provided by the Examining and Counseling Division or can be found on the Illinois Conservation Police website above. 

Applicants must possess either an Associate’s degree (any field of study) AND three years of full time law enforcement experience with the same agency (or three years as an active duty, fully sworn Military Police Officer), or possess a Bachelor’s degree (any field of study).  Either degree must be obtained within 90 days of the written examination. Veterans wishing to apply and have questions regarding preference may contact CMS Veterans Outreach Program for clarification. 

Applicants must also successfully complete each of the following steps in the hiring process:  

•  Written Examination
•  P.O.W.E.R. Test
•  Swim Test
•  Oral Interview
•  Psychological Evaluation
•  Medical Screening
•  Background investigation

A complete description of the hiring process can be viewed on the Illinois Conservation Police website.

Conservation Police Officers have full police authority, with an enforcement mission focused on natural resources protection and outdoor recreation safety.  Duties include enforcement of criminal and vehicle laws in state parks; patrolling Illinois lakes and rivers and enforcing boat safety laws and regulations; enforcing state and federal fish and wildlife laws and regulations; enforcing timber buyers act, forest protection, endangered species protection, and snowmobile registration and operation laws; enforcing laws and regulations regarding commercial establishments including taxidermists, fur buyers and fish markets; and, enforcing IDNR administrative rules and regulations.

For more information on the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement and the Conservation Police Officer hiring process, review the detailed information available on the IDNR web site at www.dnr.illinois.gov   (click on the “Safety and Rules” and then “Law Enforcement” ) or contact Lt. Curt Lewis, IDNR Office of Law Enforcement, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/785-8407, e-mail curt.lewis@Illinois.gov.