Police Officer

City of Wauwatosa; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 67,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Wauwatosa is seeking a Police Officer to defend life and property, enforce laws, and serve residents and visitors. You will respond to calls, patrol neighborhoods, control crowds and traffic, and participate in ongoing training to maintain certification.

Strong commitment to community safety is essential. Starting pay is $32.32 per hour ($67,229.88 annually); increases to $35.91 ($74,692.21) at 6 months, then $39.46 ($82,085.66) after one year, with top pay at $46.13 per hour

Qualifications

• Be at least 21 years old and a United States citizen (birth certificate required).
• Education: minimum 30 college credits; 60 more within five years of hire.
• No felony or domestic violence convictions.
• Valid driver's license at time of application and during employment.
• Ability to communicate in English clearly, both spoken and written.

Responsibilities

• Respond to calls for service to preserve the peace and safety.
• Protect life and property; perform security checks and patrol.
• Investigate incidents, collect evidence, and file reports.
• Prepare court documents and testimony when required.
• Operate police vehicles in routine and emergency situations.

Skills

English communication

Citizen

Education

30 college credits

60 credits within 5 years

Job description

JOB REQUIREMENTS: The Wauwatosa Police Department's mission is:

Dedicated service and protection for all and our vision is: To foster a safe and secure community through collaboration, trust, and exceptional police service.

A Wauwatosa Police Officer will be ready to serve and committed to the mission and vision of the department. Police Officers are responsible for providing protection of life and property; promoting and preserving peace through cooperation; enforcing municipal, state and federal laws; and delivering police-related services for all residents and visitors of Wauwatosa, WI.

The starting pay for this position is $32.32 per hour ($67,229.88 annually), moves to $35.91 per hour ($74,692.21 annually) after six months, and $39.46 per hour ($82,085.66 annually) after one year. There are annual step increases until completion of the sixth year, when top pay is reached, currently $46.13 per hour ($95,948.49 annually). Pay rates are based on the 2026 collective bargaining agreement. Lateral candidates who are WI LESB (Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board) certified and currently working for a law enforcement agency may be given consideration for years of service when determining starting pay and vacation.

Police Recruitment Website: https://www.ServeTosa.com

This position is responsible for the essential duties below and other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

Preserves the peace by responding to calls for assistance involving altercations between people, including but not limited to domestic disturbances, fighting, and neighborhood disputes; performs crowd and traffic control; enforces state and local laws and ordinances relating to keeping of the peace; provides foot patrol to residential and business areas in order to maintain community relations.

Protects life by responding to calls for service and emergency assistance; renders aid to the physically injured, handicapped, and others requiring assistance, including but not limited to victims of accidents, criminal incidents, and mental or physical disabilities; investigates safety hazards and takes action to correct potential problem areas, including road hazards, defects, and environmental hazards.

Protects property by performing security checks of residences and businesses, physically walking through residential areas and viewing all areas of buildings to ensure their physical integrity; observes potential of real hazards including but not limited to natural disasters, fires, alarms, gas leaks, hazardous material spills, roadway debris, and other structure and infrastructure defects, and take corrective action by contacting proper authorities for assistance and/or securing areas through the use of barricades of other devices; takes found property into custody for safekeeping.

Investigates violations of state laws and local ordinances, and arrests violators using the degree of force necessary in accordance with state law and department policy; secures and protects crime scenes in order to identify and collect any physical evidence present; obtains descriptions of suspects and vehicles involved in crimes or criminal activity; enforces traffic laws on order to curtail violations which endanger lives and property, including excessive speed, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and careless driving.

Prepares incident and accident reports, affidavits, citations, legal documents, memorandums, and other job-related forms and documents; prepares and testifies in court as to report information and action taken; uses computers to enter and query information as necessary in the performance of official duties.

Participates in job related training and courses to maintain law enforcement certification. Maintains physical condition necessary to perform official duties and day to day operations, and to operate job related equipment, including lethal and non-lethal weapons, radios, handcuffs, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, crime scene kits, and other equipment as needed.

Performs service related activities including assistance to broken down, lost, or locked out motorists, animal complaints, nuisance calls, and other calls for service as warranted. Drives and operates police vehicles in routine and emergency situations, including normal day to day driving, emergency responses to calls and high-speed pursuits of offending vehicles.

Maintain Skills, Knowledge, And Abilities Necessary To Perform Duties

Ma ntains physical condition necessary to perform official duties and day to day operations, and to operate job related equipment, including lethal and non-lethal weapons, radios, handcuffs, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, crime scene kits, and other equipment as needed. Performs service related activities including assistance to broken down, lost, or locked out motorists, animal complaints, nuisance calls, and other calls for service as warranted. Drives and operates police vehicles in routine and emergency situations, including normal day to day driving, emergency responses to calls and high-speed pursuits of offending vehicles.

OTHER EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirements:

1. Be at least 21 years old, and a United States Citizen. Certified copy of birth certificate required to verify age. If not born in the United States, a naturalization certificate or United States passport required to verify citizenship. Document(s) must be produced at the Police & Fire Commission Interview.
2. Education: A minimum of 30 college credits from an accredited college or university at the time of hire. Copies of Transcript(s) Required. Additionally, 60 College Credits Will Be required within five years of an officer's initial date of hire as a sworn law enforcement officer.
3. Not have any felony or domestic violence convictions.
4. Valid driver's license at time of application and throughout employment.
5. Vision 20/40 corrected.
6. Ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing, in a clear manner using appropriate grammar.
7. Ability to operate a motor vehicle under normal and adverse conditions while maintaining the ability to communicate and activate the equipment in the vehicle.
8. Ability to make quick decisions, accurate observations, use sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor under ordinary and stressful situations.
9. Ability to recall details, copy written and oral information and apply instructions with a high degree of accuracy.
10. Ability to read and comprehend legal and non-legal material written in English.
11. Ability to learn and comply with department operations, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures associated with the position.
12. Ability to learn and apply federal, state, and municipal laws and ordinances related to police duties and responsibilities.
13. Ability to apply concepts, procedures, and techniques related to interviewing, investigations, defense and arrest tactics, evidence Preservation, Search/seizure, And The Use Of Force.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education graduation (Associate's, Bachelor's, Master’s, etc.)
• Current law enforcement certification
• Two or more years of previous sworn law enforcement experience
• Previous non-sworn law enforcement experience
• Military service

Required Documentation

1. Certified copy of birth certificate required to verify age. If not born in the United States, a naturalization certificate or United States passport required to verify citizenship. Document(s) must be produced at the Police & Fire Commission Interview.
2. If a certified law enforcement officer in Wisconsin, proof of Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) certification and professional history.
3. If a graduate of a Wisconsin Law Enforcement Preparatory Academy, but not a certified law enforcement officer in Wisconsin, proof of graduation within three years of anticipated hire date.
4. If enrolled in a Wisconsin Law Enforcement Preparatory Academy at the time of application, proof of academy enrollment.
5. If a military vet