Illinois Ranks as One of the Best States to be a Cop

May 19, 2023

Law enforcement across the country continues to deal with recruitment and retention issues.

"The long-term outlook for the field of policing is responding to the recruitment and retention crisis of police officers. Research tells us that some agencies in the U.S. are experiencing increases in retirements and resignations since the summer of 2020," wrote Tom Mrozla, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of South Dakota. "As calls for defunding and abolishing the police wane, cities and police agencies must work together to stabilize personnel."

At a time when many are looking to make big moves for big opportunities, there is some good news for police officers in the Land of Lincoln. A few recent reports are highlighting Illinois as one of the best states to be a police officer. 

World Population Review placed Illinois as the third best state to be a police officer. It followed closely behind California (second) and Connecticut (first). Some of the factors that played a part in the publication's ranking were pay scale, favorable law enforcement training requirements, and job hazards. While Illinois' overall rank was third, here's how it played out for each of the metrics:

  • Opportunity and Competition Rank: 5
  • Training Requirements: 6
  • Job Hazards and Protections: 21

WalletHub also used a similar methodology as World Population Review, evaluating three key dimensions: Opportunity & Competition, Law Enforcement Training Requirements, and Job Hazards & Protections. Based on WalletHub's report for 2023, Illinois ranks as the 5th best state overall to be a cop. 

The good news didn't stop there as the report showed Illinois as the top state with the highest median income for law enforcement officers, adjusted for cost of living. Unfortunately, Illinois was among the bottom five when it came to the percentage of homicide cases solved.

"We certainly recognize the challenges that our officers face and the public safety issues specific to Illinois, but this data absolutely supports what I have seen over the past few years," wrote Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen. "Illinois, by far, has the finest police officers in the nation. In terms of commitment to service, the level of professionalism and commitment to our respective communities, Illinois police officers rank #1."

Many states will undoubtedly continue to grapple with recruitment and retention issues as the years progress. According to the United State Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment in protective service occupations, such as law enforcement, is projected to grow by 3% from 2021 to 2031. This is slower than the average for all occupations, but the increase is expected to result in about 20,600 new jobs over the decade. 

These recent reports from WalletHub and World Population Review will hopefully bode well for Illinois' future recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers. No matter how reports and studies rank law enforcement, our state's wonderful officers continue to make us proud as they walk the thin blue line to protect and serve communities.