The Department of Natural Resources, Office of Law Enforcement (“Agency” or “State”) is in the process of hiring a Conservation Police Recruit class that will begin their academy training in February 2025. To have the class selected and ready for the academy by February 2025, several steps must be completed prior to that time. One of the steps in the hiring process is the completion of a physical/medical examination of each applicant to be used as an aid in assessing the applicant’s suitability for a position as a Conservation Police Officer (CPO) with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Screening CPO applicants prior to employment reduces the likelihood of hiring a candidate who may not be physically prepared to endure the rigorous Conservation Police training environment or be prepared to perform the essential job duties of an Illinois CPO. This procurement enables the Illinois Conservation Police to provide medical/physical evaluations for candidates from a qualified professional to determine compliance with the requirements of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Law Enforcement. Screening the police candidates prior to employment reduces the likelihood of the candidates experiencing medical/physical related issues during training and in the field. Pre-employment medical/physical evaluation is a specialized examination of an applicant’s medical suitability for a public safety position. These positions include, but are not limited to, positions where incumbents have arrest authority or the legal authority to detain and confine individuals. Medial/physical suitability includes, at a minimum, the absence of job-relevant physical or medical conditions that would reasonably be expected to interfere with safe and effective performance as a law enforcement officer.
