The Sun-Times reports the police department is lowering the application age to 18 to increase the pool of eligible applicants and boost diversity.
In 2010, former Police Superintendent Jody Weis raised the application age from 21 to 25 to attract more mature officers.
But a spokesman says Superintendent Garry McCarthy decided to lower it to reach people at the time they are making career decisions.
Applicants who pass the exam can enter the police force at age 21.
