Police Officer

Milwaukee Police Department; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Milwaukee Police Department seeks qualified candidates for the Police Officer position through the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission. This role emphasizes protecting life and property, engaging with the community, and upholding state and city laws.

The selection process includes a new pathway for UWM graduates and advanced education points. Applicants must meet minimum requirements and complete probation with a 40-hour work week, including rotating shifts and possible overtime.

Qualifications

• Minimum age 20 at time of application; 21 at appointment.
• United States Citizenship.
• High School Diploma or Wisconsin GED.
• Must meet Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board requirements.

Responsibilities

• Enforce laws and detain individuals as needed.
• Respond to calls for service and emergencies.
• Conduct investigations of suspicious activity; write reports.
• Interview suspects and witnesses; testify in court when required.
• Patrol city areas by car, motorcycle, bicycle, or on foot.
• Interact with community members and coordinate with resources as needed.

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Recruitment #2700-2342-200

List Type: Original

Requesting Department: Milwaukee Police Department

Open Date: 10/1/2026 12:00:00 AM

Filing Deadline: 12/31/2026 11:59:00 PM

HR Analyst: Jordan Hendry

Introduction

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 the August 2027 academy class.

Enhanced Opportunities for Police Officer Applicants

The City of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC) is pleased to offer expanded pathways in the Police Officer recruitment process, including a special option for recent graduates of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s Criminal Justice & Criminology program.

Special Option for Eligible UWM Criminal Justice Graduates

Graduates who completed their degrees after Fall 2023 may submit their UWM transcripts in place of the written examination and will receive additional selection benefits:

• Automatic Education Preference Points
• Direct advancement to the Oral Interview stage

This partnership supports our shared effort to strengthen the pipeline of highly educated, community-focused candidates entering public service—while maintaining an open, competitive process for all applicants.

For questions, please contact Jordan Hendry at [e-mail] or [phone].

Purpose

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.

Essential Functions

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.

Conditions of Employment

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.

• 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.) Born before 8/16/2006
• 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