The *Daily Herald* recently published an article exploring potential changes to the qualifications required for becoming a firefighter in Schaumburg. According to the piece, the village’s public safety committee has proposed lowering the maximum starting age for new firefighters and police officers from 40 to 35. In addition, the proposal includes requiring all new firefighters to hold a bachelor’s degree—similar to the current standard for village police officers.
The change in age requirements is driven by compliance with state law, though the statute is complex and includes several exceptions, such as for those who have served in the military, according to Assistant Village Attorney Rita Elsner. The law also sets a minimum hiring age of 21, which Schaumburg Police Chief James Lamkin believes reflects an expectation of maturity among officers.
Lamkin emphasized that the village has long required its police officers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, which he says contributes to a broader base of knowledge and experience among staff. However, this requirement is less common for firefighters, and Schaumburg may soon be an outlier in this regard, said Assistant Village Manager Paula Hewson.
Previously, the fire department accepted either an associate or a bachelor’s degree, but applicants with bachelor’s degrees have already been receiving preference points in the hiring process, which places them higher on the list, Hewson noted. As a result, she added, the new requirement might not significantly impact who gets hired, given the current preference system.
The state statute applies when a new hiring list is created, and most lists remain valid for two to three years after testing, she explained. This means the changes won’t take effect immediately but will gradually shape future hiring practices.
In fact, approximately 390 candidates took the test this month for the Schaumburg Police Officer hiring list, according to Lamkin. With these updates, the village is preparing for a shift in how it evaluates and selects its emergency service personnel.
Thanks, Dan.
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