Mt. Prospect may open police jobs to noncitizens to diversify applicant pool

Faced with a shrinking pool of applicants and desiring to increase diversity, the Mount Prospect police department is considering easing its citizenship requirements for job applicants. The proposal was discussed this week by the village board, sparking spirited remarks from members of the public who took issue with the proposal.

Police staff have proposed accepting applicants who are permanent residents - that is, noncitizens who possess a "green card." Each year, Congress establishes a finite number of permanent resident visas, which are issued after extensive background checks. Permanent residents are eligible to apply for citizenship after five years - three years if married to a U.S. citizen.

Resident Angela Volpe said she objected to noncitizens taking away American jobs. She said she has been asked, "How can a noncitizen arrest a citizen?"

Mayor Arlene Juracek replied, "The same way a noncitizen can fight for our freedoms overseas. They're in the Armed Forces."

One of the goals of the change, according to a police memorandum, is to expand the department's outreach to growing immigrant communities. The census shows that 32 percent of Mount Prospect's population is foreign born, more than double the state average of nearly 14 percent. Approximately 42 percent of the village's population age 5 or greater speaks a language other than English in the home.

"We have seen the pool of applicants diminish," said Michaele Skowron, who heads the village Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. "And this was an opportunity to increase the pool, to get applicants who perhaps spoke a language for those that are now being represented in our village to a greater extent, who perhaps have skill sets, experiences that other applicants don't have."

During the meeting, a spirited exchange took place between Trustee Paul Hoefert and former trustee candidate Carl Arriaza, who said, "If Mount Prospect is going to hire police officers, they should be American citizens. They have to be part of our culture. They have to be part of our area."

Hoefert responded, "So somebody who is here on permanent status can have their rear end shipped overseas and they are fighting for our freedoms … you're OK with that, but you're not OK with this."

Another former candidate, John Dyslin, said, "It's not even just a citizenship issue. It's a jobs issue."

Juracek said Chicago and several suburbs already use permanent residents. Skowron said permanent residents would have to clear the hiring process, which includes written and oral tests, a physical test, a polygraph screening and a background check.

The matter will come back to the board for a second reading at a future meeting.