Village commissioners have agreed to lower the minimum age for auxiliary police officers to 18 from 21 and to remove a residency requirement.
The changes, approved last week, were made to avoid litigation because village attorneys said the pre-employment qualifications could be seen as discriminatory.
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Auxiliary officers serve as observers and traffic guides during special events and major disasters in the village, in addition to aiding in crime prevention.
Instead of requiring auxiliary officers to be residents of the village or its neighboring communities, the village now will accept officers who live within a 10-mile radius of Downers Grove.
The lower minimum age for auxiliary officers mirrors the requirements of the village’s regular police force. Because auxiliary officers do not carry weapons, the age restriction is considered insignificant, officials said.