Deputy Sheriff

Wisconsin Counties; Kenosha (WI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Kenosha County Sheriff's Office seeks motivated Deputy Sheriff applicants dedicated to public safety and community service. The role includes patrol duties, specialized units opportunities, and adherence to strict standards and training requirements.

Hiring rate is $34.77 per hour. Duty stations include Patrol Division with opportunities across K-9, Marine, and Tactical units. Residency and licensing requirements apply as described in the posting.

Qualifications

• Must meet physical, mental, and psychological standards.
• Certification by LESB or 40 college credits required or in process.

Responsibilities

• Patrol roads and highways in marked patrol squads.
• Respond to and investigate calls for service, reports of crime, and traffic accidents.
• Assist in providing search and rescue operations.
• Ensure public safety through enforcement of federal, state, and local laws.
• Transport detainees to court and other locations.
• Serve warrants and other court-related paperwork.

Skills

Physical fitness

Decision making under pressure

Integrity & ethics

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

LESB certification or 40 college credits

Job description

Are you interested in a law enforcement career filled with challenge and purpose? The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office is seeking professional, highly motivated, community oriented individuals with strong integrity. We hire only the best, which means you will work alongside dedicated law enforcement professionals who strive each day to meet new goals while protecting and serving Kenosha County.

Benefits include participation in the State of Wisconsin retirement system; paid vacation; health and dental insurance; and provided uniform, duty weapon, and protective vest. A take home patrol vehicle program is available for Deputies who complete probation and are assigned to the Patrol Division. The Sheriff’s Office is also a certified VA Apprenticeship Employer for veterans interested in using their GI Bill benefits.

We invite you to apply for the position of Deputy Sheriff with the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. Our employees enjoy a dynamic work environment and numerous opportunities for professional development and advancement, including assignments in the K 9 Unit, Marine Unit, Tactical Response Team, Drone Unit, Traffic Interdiction Unit, Bomb Squad, School Resource Officer program, and many more.

Be a part of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, a leader in public safety!

Hiring Rate as of January 3, 2027 – $34.77/hour

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Deputy Sheriffs perform a wide variety of duties connected with generalized police work. Assigned duties are performed in accordance with state statutes and departmental rules and regulations. Immediate supervision is received from a Sergeant or other superior officer. The Deputy Sheriff is expected to exercise independent judgment and initiative when faced with emergency situations. The work involves an element of danger.

• Patrol roads and highways in marked patrol squads
• Respond to and investigate calls for service, reports of crime, and traffic accidents
• Assist in providing search and rescue operations
• Ensure public safety through enforcement of federal, state, and local laws
• Securely transport persons in custody to and from court and other locations
• Serve or deliver warrants and other court-related paperwork and civil process
• Subdue, control, and detain aggressive individuals involved in physical confrontations
• Prepare accurate and concise reports

Specialized police work includes, but is not limited to:

• ATV and snowmobile patrol, bicycle patrol, water patrol on Lake Michigan and inland lakes
• Evidentiary recovery dive team
• Community engagement programs such as DARE, Deputy Friendly, and School Resource Officers
• Honor Guard, K-9 Unit, Bomb Squad, and Tactical Response Team

WORK SCHEDULE

• The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Employees are required to work holidays and weekends and must be available for assignment to any existing shift. Days off will rotate.
• Employees must be able to work overtime as needed, with or without advance notice.

REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to meet the physical, mental, and psychological standards required of a Deputy Sheriff.
• Ability to perform certified law enforcement duties, including conducting traffic stops, responding to high risk calls, managing large crowds at events, and performing other law enforcement–related tasks.
• Ability to operate effectively in situations that may shift rapidly from routine patrol activities to emergencies that are highly stressful and potentially dangerous.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants who do not meet all of the requirements listed will be disqualified.

• Must be a citizen of the United States.
• Must be not less than eighteen and a half (18 ½) years of age at time of application and not less than nineteen (19) years of age upon date of hire.
• Requires a background free of felony convictions and domestic violence related convictions.
• Must meet eligibility requirements for certification by the Law Enforcement Standards Board; certification must be obtained during the probationary period and maintained during employment.

Driving Record

• Must possess a valid, non-probationary driver’s license.
• During the time period beginning on the date three (3) years immediately preceding the date of the entrance exam and continuing to the date of appointment, may not have been convicted of any single violation equivalent to more than four (4) points and have accumulated no more than the equivalent of six (6) points, as assessed by the State of Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles.

Education and Training

At time of oral interview, applicants must possess and show proof of the following:

• High school diploma or equivalent; and
• Certification by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB); or
• A minimum of forty (40) college-level credits from an accredited institution.

Documentation of education and training must be provided to Human Resources prior to oral interview.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Application Review (includes review of required credits)
• Entrance Examination and Scenarios
• Determination of Preference Points
• Applicant must provide DD-214 (Member-4 Copy), if applicable

Successful candidates will be placed on a rank order eligibility list which will be in effect for a maximum of twelve months. These candidates will be taken in descending order through the following steps:

• Driver’s License and Driving History Record Check
• Background Investigation
• Oral Interviews
• Physical Readiness Test

The State of Wisconsin’s Physical Readiness Test that is required to be admitted into the Law Enforcement Academy. The chart below shows the pass/fail standard for the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office.

Physical Readiness Test Minimum Needed Score

• 1.5 mile run 20:20 minutes
• 300 m run 82 seconds
• Push ups 18
• Sit-ups 24
• Vertical Jump 11.5 inches
• Agility Run 23.4 seconds

The Physical Readiness Test is a pass/fail assessment. Failure of any portion results in failure of the entire test and removal from further consideration in the selection process. Applicants who are not currently certified or certifiable must meet the Physical Readiness Test entrance standards established by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Training and Standards Bureau, to be eligible for admission to the law enforcement academy – Physical Readiness Introductory Letter

Candidates who successfully complete these steps and are selected by the Sheriff for conditional employment will be required to participate in the following prior to appointment:

• Job Trait Assessment
• Physical Examination/Drug Screen (must possess the physical condition necessary to perform the essential duties of the position)

Kenosha County’s Civil Service Ordinance ensures an equitable system of recruitment, selection, promotion, and retention for Sheriff’s Office Deputies. Please note: Any candidate who is placed on an eligibility list and is subsequently decertified at any point may not test again until one year has passed from the date of the previous test.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

The position of Deputy Sheriff is governed by the Kenosha County Civil Service Ordinance. The Ordinance establishes a residency boundary of twenty (20) miles in any direction from the borders of Kenosha County. Successful candidates must meet this residency requirement within nine months of hire and maintain compliance for the duration of their employment.

To learn more about the Sheriff’s Office, please visit: https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/548/Sheriffs-Office

If a candidate has worked for a confinement entity as a current or past employer (e.g., federal or state prison, county or local jail, lockup, juvenile facility, or community confinement facility), that employer must be listed on the candidate’s resume, and reference contact information must be provided during the reference check stage of the process.

Kenosha County is a Wisconsin Retirement System participating employer. Your participation is required, which includes an employee contribution.

We are located in Kenosha County, an expanding community along the shores of Lake Michigan and less than an hour away from Milwaukee and Chicago. To see why Kenosha County is a great place to live, work, and play, please visit: https://www.visitkenosha.com/ or https://lifebalancedkenosha.com/.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Kenosha County!