How to Become a Police Officer in Wisconsin – Requirements To Be a Cop in WI

The first step to becoming a certified police officer in Wisconsin is to find a job with an agency and from there go through the training process. In order to be hired, the state has established certain minimum standards that must be met. Some police agencies may have requirements above these minimums. You can find a list of Wisconsin police departments Here.

You also can find all the information you need to become a police officer in Wisconsin on the career page on the website of the Wisconsin Department of Justice Here.

Requirements & Qualifications

Wisconsin’s educational standards for law enforcement officers are stringent. In addition to requiring a high school diploma or GED equivalent, the state mandates that all police officers have a two year associate degree or a minimum of 60 fully accredited college level credits. The minimum age to become an officer in the state is 18, and U.S. citizenship and a valid Wisconsin driver’s license also is a minimum requirement.

Disqualifying Factors

Persons who have been convicted of any felony offense may not be hired as a police officer in Wisconsin. Conviction of any misdemeanor crime of domestic violence also is a disqualifying factor. That’s because, under federal law, individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes are prohibited from carrying firearms.

The Background Investigation Process

Applicants must undergo fingerprinting, with a search of local, state and national fingerprint records, a background investigation and other investigations that the hiring agency may deem necessary to ascertain loyalty to the United States or detect any conditions that would adversely affect performance as a law enforcement officer.

Medical Evaluation Process

All applicants must be free from any physical, emotional or mental condition which might adversely affect performance of duties as a law enforcement officer and they must undergo a physical exam to verify that they can meet physical standards required of the position. Drug testing also will be administered to all applicants for a variety of controlled substance.

Police Training Academy Standards

All candidates seeking certification must undergo basic police training. In Wisconsin this can be done prior to being hired by an agency, at your own cost, or it can be done after you are hired at the cost of the hiring agency. If you undergo the training before being hired by an agency, you have three years from the completion of the training to obtain a job. After that further training will be required.

The training curriculum, established by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) consists of 520 hours over 13 weeks for full-time students. Training can also be done part-time in a series of seven units taught over 12 to 18 months.  You can find the curriculum Here.

The training is offered as a number of technical colleges certified by LESB. You can find a list of these schools here.

Average Salary For Cops in WI

According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics (2011), a police officer in the state of Wisconsin makes between $49,430 – $54,230 per year. However the data collected by BLS is not very accurate because it does not take into account overtime pay or off duty gigs like private security work, special assignments and etc. These factors, if included in the data, would have drastically increased the average salary of a police officer in Wisconsin.

Police Officer Jobs in Wisconsin

There are several law enforcement job openings in Wisconsin. Simply visit our Career Job Opening Section or go to the official website of the agency you are interested in to complete an application of employment. Below is a list of law enforcement agencies in the state of Wisconsin.

  • Adams County Sheriff’s Office
  • Ashland County Sheriff’s Office
  • Barron County Sheriff’s Office
  • Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office
  • Brown County Sheriff’s Office
  • Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Burnett County Sheriff’s Office
  • Calumet County Sheriff’s Office
  • Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office
  • Clark County Sheriff’s Office
  • Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
  • Crawford County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dane County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dodge County Sheriff’s Office
  • Door County Sheriff’s Office
  • Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dunn County Sheriff’s Office
  • Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office
  • Florence County Sheriff’s Office
  • Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office
  • Forest County Sheriff’s Office
  • Grant County Sheriff’s Office
  • Green County Sheriff’s Office
  • Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office
  • Iowa County Sheriff’s Office
  • Iron County Sheriff’s Office
  • Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
  • Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
  • Juneau County Sheriff’s Office
  • Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office
  • Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Office
  • La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office
  • Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office
  • Langlade County Sheriff’s Office
  • Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
  • Manitowoc County Sheriffs Department
  • Marathon County Sheriff’s Office
  • Marinette County Sheriff’s Office
  • Marquette County Sheriff’s Office
  • Menominee County Sheriff’s Office
  • Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
  • Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
  • Oconto County Sheriff’s Office
  • Oneida County Sheriff’s Office
  • Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office
  • Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office
  • Pepin County Sheriff’s Office
  • Pierce County Sheriff’s Office
  • Polk County Sheriff’s Office
  • Portage County Sheriff’s Office
  • Price County Sheriff’s Office
  • Racine County Sheriff Department
  • Richland County Sheriff’s Office
  • Rock County Sheriff’s Office
  • Rusk County Sheriff’s Office
  • Saint Croix County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sauk County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office
  • Shawano County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office
  • Taylor County Sheriff’s Office
  • Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office
  • Vernon County Sheriff’s Office
  • Vilas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Walworth County Sheriff’s Office
  • Washburn County Sheriff’s Office
  • Washington County Sheriff’s Office
  • Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office
  • Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office
  • Waushara County Sheriff’s Office
  • Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office
  • Wood County Sheriff Department
  • Baraboo Police Department
  • Brodhead Police Department
  • Colby-Abbotsford Police Department
  • Delafield Police Department
  • Elkhart Lake Police Department
  • Fitchburg Police Department
  • Fond du Lac City Police Department
  • Fort Atkinson Police Department
  • Fox Valley Metro Police Department
  • Genoa City Police Department
  • Gillett Police Department
  • Grand Chute Police Department
  • Green Bay Police Department
  • Greendale Police Department
  • Greenfield Police Department
  • Hartford Police Department
  • Hazel Green Police Department
  • Janesville Police Department
  • Jefferson Police Department
  • Kaukauna Police Department
  • Kenosha Police Department
  • Kewaskum Police Department
  • Lake Geneva Police Department
  • La Crosse Police Department
  • Madison Park Rangers
  • Madison Police Department
  • Manitowoc Police Department
  • Mayville Police Department
  • McFarland Police Department
  • Menasha Police Department
  • Menomonie Police Department
  • Mequon Police Department
  • Milwaukee Police Department
  • Minocqua Police Department
  • Mohican Nation Tribal Police Department
  • Monona Police Department
  • Mount Horeb Police Department
  • Muskego Police Department
  • New Berlin Police Department
  • New Richmond Police Department
  • Oconomowoc Lake Police Department
  • Onalaska Police Department
  • Oneida Police Department
  • Oshkosh Police Department
  • Pewaukee Police Department
  • Phillips Police Department
  • Platteville Police Department
  • Pleasant Prairie Police Department
  • Plymouth Police Department
  • Reeseville Police Department
  • Ripon Police Department
  • River Falls Police Department
  • Rosendale Police Department
  • Rothschild Police Department
  • Shawano Police Department
  • Sheboygan Police Department
  • South Milwaukee Police Department
  • Spring Green Police Department
  • Sturgeon Bay Police Department
  • Sturtevant Police Department
  • Summit Police Department
  • Sun Prairie WI Police Department
  • Superior Police Department
  • Tomah Police Department
  • Two Rivers WI Police Deartment
  • Verona Police Department
  • Waukesha Police Department
  • Waunakee Police Department
  • Waupaca Police Department
  • Wausau Police Department
  • Wauwatosa Police Department
  • West Allis Police Department
  • West Bend Police Department
  • West Milwaukee Police Department
  • Whitewater Police Department
  • Williams Bay Police Department
  • Wisconsin Rapids Police Department
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Speaking Events Best Fit:

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With an unparalleled charisma and a captivating stage presence, EL Forestal, the founder and creator of  Hero Helper AI,  has the ability to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact. Drawing upon his immigrant upbringing, law enforcement background and expertise in AI automation, strategic recruiting growth & business development, EL Forestal delivers powerful messages that resonate with both personal and professional aspirations. 

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