If you’re considering joining the Chicago police department, you better get a move on. The application deadline to take the Chicago Police Department’s written exam is today.

CPD will administer the exam on December 11th, which will mark the first time in four years that the department has conducted such an exam.

CPD plans to hire as many as 200 new police officers in 2011 to make up for a shortage in manpower.  The minimum age to apply for the force is 25.

Hiring in the department has slowed during the past two years, so much so that it’s ranks are more than 2,000 officers per day short of its authorized strength.

Those wanting to apply can do so at www.chicago-police.org.