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.
Applying for this position will place you in a Spring 2027 academy class.
New Partnership Opportunity with UW–Milwaukee!
The City of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) for recent graduates of the Criminal Justice & Criminology program. Under this partnership, qualified UWM Criminal Justice graduates may submit transcripts in lieu of taking the written examination for the Police Officer recruitment process.
Eligible applicants will also:
- Receive automatic Education Preference Points
- Advance directly to the Oral Interview stage of the selection process
To participate, applicants must:
- Submit an online application for the current Police Officer position.
- Email your official or unofficial UWM Criminal Justice transcript to [email protected]
- Use the subject line: “UWM Partnership Transcripts” in your email.
Transcripts must be received by the close of the application date. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to supporting UWM students and strengthening the pipeline of highly educated community-minded candidates into public service careers.
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.
Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Required to wear a uniform and carry a department-issued firearm and assigned equipment while on duty.
- Must successfully complete a 16-month probationary period.
- Will work a 40-hour work week, with rotating off-days by assignment; will be required to work most weekends and many holidays; mandatory overtime is often required (subject to contractual guidelines).
- After recruit training, Police Officers are typically assigned to the late (12:00 midnight to 8:00 a.m.) or early (4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight) shift; day-shift assignments are awarded to employees with seniority.
- Must earn sixty college credits within five (5) years of hire.
- Must meet and maintain all training and certification requirements established by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board.
- Must be able to comply with the Milwaukee Police Department Uniform Equipment and Appearances Standard Operating Procedures (available at https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/mpdAuthors/SOP/340-UNIFORMSEQUIPMENTAPPEARANCE.pdf)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum age 20 at time of application. (Note: Must be age 21 at time of appointment.)
- 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 successfully pass a Pre-employment Medical Examination, Psychological evaluation and Drug Screen. Psychological exam results are valid for one year from date of exam regardless of outcome.
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 pending from either the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Fire Department or Department of Emergency Communications 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.
- Able to read, understand, and explain Wisconsin State Statutes and City of Milwaukee ordinances.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population, in-person, via telephone, and in writing.
- Civil, courteous and customer-service oriented.
- Ability to write accurate and complete reports and accurately record information – by hand and using a computer, file records, and process paperwork.
- Ability to solve problems and make quick and appropriate decisions in stressful situations.
- Ability to maintain self-control and to take direction from supervisors.
- Ability to maintain a positive attitude, have good moral character, be honest, responsible and trustworthy.
- Ability to perform physical activities necessary to protect oneself and others.
- Motivated and able to complete the required educational and physical fitness programs.
- Ability to drive a motor vehicle.
- Ability to work long hours for an extended period of time.
SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS: The current annual recruit starting salary is $54,891.57, with an increase to $73,188.76 upon graduation from the Academy and increases to a maximum of $97,575.19 (subject to contractual guidelines).
The city offers a generous benefit package that includes:
- Two weeks of paid vacation after one year of service
- 12 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 may include a written test, a state-mandated physical readiness test (an information video regarding this exam is available at https://wilenet.org/html/career/physical-readiness-vid.html), a recorded oral interview and background investigation. 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. You may complete the written exam, oral interview, and PHQ prior to formal testing dates by visiting this link after submitting your application. Please make sure you use the same email address when registering for the exams.
If you will be unavailable for one or more portions of the examination due to military service or training, you must provide written notification to the Fire and Police Commission, City Hall Room 705 or [email protected] prior to the 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. In order to receive military veteran points, you must submit your undeleted DD-214.
- 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. In order to receive residency preference points you must submit copies of two (2) documents that verify you live at the City of Milwaukee address that you claimed on your application. Both document(s) submitted must include all of the following: First and last name, Complete numbered street address (post office boxes will not be accepted), City, state and zip code. At least one (1) of the document(s) you submit must verify that you lived at this address during the application period.
- Education: Preference points will be added to the final passing score, if you possess an Associates or Bachelors degree in a related field when you apply; unofficial transcript from an accredited institution from which you received your diploma must be provided. In order to receive education preference points, you must submit your unofficial transcripts from an accredited institution proving you have earned a degree in a related field (e.g. criminal justice, law enforcement, police science.)
The preference points may be claimed via the online application, and the necessary supporting documentation may be uploaded to the online application, mailed to the Fire and Police Commission at Room 705, City Hall, 200 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202-3554, or emailed to
[email protected]. Supporting documentation must be received or postmarked by the close of the application period date.
Pre-employment Medical Examination, Psychological evaluation and Drug Screen: Individuals offered employment must pass a pre-employment medical examination, psychological evaluation, and drug test as a condition of employment. Psychological exam results are valid for one year from date of exam regardless of outcome.
TRAINING:
- Must complete a paid 27-week police training course at the Police Academy.
- After successfully completing the training course, will be assigned to a district police station for field training.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process must be completed online. The online application will be ongoing through the end of the year. Further information may be obtained from www.milwaukee.gov/jobs or by calling (414) 286-5038. Online applications may not be submitted after the deadline, unless extended.
This is a continuous recruitment. Applications will be accepted and examinations held as often as required to meet the needs of the City. Qualified applicants will be notified of the time and location of the examination. 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.
You may complete the written exam, oral interview, and PHQ prior to formal testing dates by visiting this link after submitting your application. Please make sure you use the same email address when registering for the exams.
Passing exam results are valid through the end of the year, while the results of the PRT are valid for exactly 180 days.
For a timeline of hire dates and/or when to apply, please visit our website.
- 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.
The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.
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