POLICE OFFICER - TRANSFER (LATERAL) OFFICERS

For a limited time, transfer officers may be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $10,000 as further described in this recruitment.

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission invites qualified individuals to apply for this challenging and rewarding position with the City of Milwaukee Police Department.  This unique position provides the opportunity to help Milwaukee’s citizens every day, while also focusing on the individual’s educational, physical fitness, personal and professional development.  The City of Milwaukee is dedicated to developing a diverse Police Department to serve the community’s needs.

Police Officers preserve public peace, protect life and property, work within the community to prevent crime, and enforce ordinances of the City of Milwaukee and the laws of the State of Wisconsin.

Police Officers perform duties involved in the protection of life and property, including but not limited to:

• Enforce criminal laws; identify, detain, and process wanted individuals.
• Respond to calls for service.
• Conduct investigations of suspicious persons or situations and preliminary investigations of major crimes and criminal activity.
• Interview suspects and witnesses and prepare appropriate investigative reports.
• Prepare and testify in court as to the facts surrounding any criminal, departmental, or civil action.
• Patrol the City of Milwaukee in a police vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, and/or on foot as directed.
• Communicate with mentally ill persons and contact or refer additional resources as appropriate.
• Operate a police vehicle in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits, in congested traffic, and in unsafe road conditions.
• Prepare accurate and complete reports of daily activities.
• Provide assistance to the community in the areas of crime prevention.
• Enforce motor vehicle laws to promote safety and reduce accidents, expedite traffic flow, and enforce Wisconsin State Statutes.
• Attend in-service training as mandated by the State of Wisconsin, or as directed.
• Perform duties in a special assignment capacity such as Motorcycle Unit, Office of Community Outreach and Education, and Narcotics Division, as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum age 20 at time of application. (Note: Must be age 21 at time of appointment.)
• Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officers must have attained certification through the State of Wisconsin's 720-hour law enforcement program.
• Completed probation with most recent or current law enforcement agency and have at least one year of law enforcement experience beyond academy.
• United States Citizenship.
• High School Diploma or Wisconsin GED or a GED from a different state that meets Wisconsin GED standards.  A Home Education Diploma will be accepted provided the applicant can provide copies of form PI-1206 filed with the Department of Public Instruction for applicants who have completed a home school program in Wisconsin, or documentation that the education program has met the requirements of the Department of Education from the state where the home school program was completed.
• Valid Wisconsin driver license, or a valid driver’s license from the state in which you reside, at the time of background investigation.
• Physically able to perform Police Officer training and job duties.
• Must successfully pass a Milwaukee Police Department Background Investigation. 
• Must complete a paid police training course at the Police Academy with the length of time (minimum of 8 weeks/maximum of 28 weeks) to be based on the location of the agency you are transferring from.
• Must be in good standing with your most recent or current law enforcement agency.

DISQUALIFIERS: Your application will be rejected if any of the following are true:

• You have been convicted of a felony. 
• You have been dishonorably discharged from any branch of the United States Military Service. 
• You have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. 
• You have failed a Milwaukee Police Department background investigation within the last two years from the date of application. 
• You have been discharged or resigned with charges or an investigation pending from a law enforcement agency within the last two years from the date of application.
• Applicants may also be disqualified on the basis of background standards, which are included on the application. 
• Four or more convictions for misdemeanor crimes, at least one of which has occurred in the preceding three years. 
• Two or more convictions for driving while under the influence or reckless driving, as defined by State Statutes, at least one of which has occurred in the preceding five years.

Transfer officers will be placed at a wage rate in Pay Range 4B (801), $63,564.75 upon graduation from the Academy and increases to a maximum of $84,743.87 (subject to contractual guidelines) and equivalent to the officer's years of service. When receiving training at the Police Academy, an officer's wage rate will be 75% of the equivalent rate while the officer is in the academy.

The city offers a generous benefit package that includes:

• Two weeks of paid vacation after one year of service
• 14 paid days off in lieu of holidays
• 15 days paid sick leave per year
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• Tuition and textbook reimbursement

The examination process will include:

• A redacted police report attached to your application, 
• A state-mandated physical readiness test (an informational video regarding this exam is available at Officer Training, Employment, and Reciprocity | WILENET (widoj.gov) Candidates must meet the exit standards. (Further instructions will be sent to eligible candidates)
• A structured oral interview.
• A background investigation. PHQ will be made available via email or job announcement.  PHQ must be submitted by January 17, 2025.

All phases of the examination must be successfully completed in order to continue in the selection process. Failure in any segment of the examination disqualifies an applicant. Qualified candidates will be notified of the time and location of the written examination.

ELIGIBLE LIST: Candidates who successfully pass the examination process will be placed on an eligible list for Police Officer, with ranking based upon the test scores plus any applicable preference points (see below).

PREFERENCE POINTS:  Preference points may be added to the final passing score in accordance with State Statutes and Fire and Police Commission Rules. 

· Veterans: Qualified veterans will receive military preference points added to the final passing score; a DD-214 is required as proof of service.

· City Residents: Preference points will be added to the final passing score, if you are a bona fide resident of the City of Milwaukee when you apply; proof of residency must be provided.

· Education: Preference points will be added to the final passing score, if you possess an Associates or Bachelor's degree in a related field when you apply; unofficial transcript from an accredited institution from which you received your diploma must be provided.

The application process must be completed online. Further information may be obtained from www.milwaukee.gov/jobs or by calling (414) 286-5000.  Online applications may not be submitted after the deadline, unless extended.

If you will be unavailable for one or more portions of the examination due to military service or training, you may be eligible for a make-up examination pursuant to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). In order to qualify for a make-up examination, you must meet USERRA eligibility requirements, including the requirement to provide advanced written or verbal notification to the Fire and Police Commission. For more information about your rights and responsibilities under USERRA, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor website at www.dol.gov. You must contact FPC Human Resources Representative Jordan Hendry at (414) 286-5038, via email at jhendr@milwaukee.gov, via fax at (414) 285-5050.

Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative test administration. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee. The names of successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list in a rank determined by the final score without reference to the date of the examination.

Prospective timeline:

*Timeline is subject to change. Eligible candidates will receive email communications from the FPC with updates and required testing components. Once a candidate is disqualified, they will cease to receive communication regarding future events.