Section 1720.35  Academy Entrance Qualifications

a)         A person shall not be eligible to enter a Board-certified Minimum Standards Basic Training Course if:

1)         the Board determines that person is not a person of good character; or

2)         that person has been convicted of a felony, decertifiable misdemeanor as prescribed in Section 6 of the Illinois Police Training Act, or any other crime involving moral turpitude.

b)         Moral turpitude includes, but is not limited to, actions that contravene the need to protect the public, fail to meet the integrity of the profession, or do not preserve the administration of justice from reproach.

c)         An applicant's employer agency shall submit to the academy an authorization to obtain and release information and a written certification within 30 days prior to the first day of basic training.  The written certification shall attest that the applicant's background has been checked and verified and that the applicant meets the requirements set forth in subsection (a) and Section 6 of the Illinois Police Training Act.

d)         The written certification shall contain the following information:

1)         Name and address of employer agency;

2)         Name and address of applicant;

3)         Verification that the criminal history of the applicant has been examined and contains no violation as specified in the Illinois Police Training Act or this Part;

4)         Verification that the personal history of the applicant has been examined and that the applicant is of good character; and

5)         Dated signatures of the agency head on the application with an attestation from the applicant that the information is true and correct.

e)         The Academy Director shall review the qualifications of the applicant within the first 2 weeks of training.  An applicant's continued participation in the academy is conditional upon this review.

f)         In the event that the Academy Director determines that an applicant does not meet the standards set forth by law, the applicant's employer agency shall be notified in writing that the applicant is not eligible to enter the academy and the applicant shall be sent home.  Reasons for the denial shall be in writing.

g)         Any employer agency who wishes to appeal the decision of an Academy Director denying admission into a Board-certified academy shall, within 10 days after receipt of the denial, submit a written request for review to the Executive Director of the Board.

h)         The Executive Director of the Board shall have 30 days after receipt of the request to undertake a review of and investigate the Academy Director's decision.  Failure to cooperate in the investigation on the part of the applicant or employer agency may result in the Academy Director's decision being confirmed.

i)          The Executive Director shall decide within 30 days whether to confirm or overrule the Academy Director's decision. If the Executive Director confirms the decision, or if the Board in any way believes the individual to lack the requisite characteristics to serve as a law enforcement officer, the Board shall issue a formal Finding of Ineligibility to the applicant and the employing agency.

j)          In the event the Executive Director confirms the decision, the applicant's employer agency may, in writing, file an appeal, within 10 days after receipt of the Executive Director's decision.  The Board's Certification Review Panel shall review the record at the next regularly scheduled meeting to confirm or overrule the Executive Director.  The Certification Review Panel shall make its recommendation to the Board at the Board's next regularly scheduled meeting.

k)         If an appeal is filed, an applicant will be granted the 90 day waiver in Section 8.1 of the Act to complete basic training.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 9369, effective June 23, 2023)