Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Police And Sheriffs Patrol Officers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at UW Milwaukee, UW Eau Claire, UW Oshkosh, and UW Parkside.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Milwaukee Area Technical College, UW Parkside, Carroll University, and Lakeland.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Mount Mary College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider College of Menominee Nation, Concordia, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Carroll University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Concordia, College of Menominee Nation, Lakeland, and Marian.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Marquette, Carthage College, Concordia, and Carroll University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Carthage College, Carroll University, Marquette, and UW Platteville.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Marquette.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Mount Mary College and Milwaukee Area Technical College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Nicolet Area Technical College, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, College of Menominee Nation, and Gateway Technical College.
Working as a Police Officer or Sheriff's Patrol Officer in Wisconsin
Police officers and sheriff's patrol officers protect the lives and property of citizens in the communities where they serve. They look out for and apprehend those who break laws, writing reports to maintain records of incidents. Read a detailed Police Officer and Sheriff's Patrol Officer job description and schools overview.
The Wisconsin Professional Police Association and Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officers Association can provide professional development resources.
State Requirements
The State of Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) requires that all police officers and sheriff's patrol officers meet specific requirements. Qualified applicants:
- Are at least 18 years of age, a U.S. Citizen, possess a high school diploma or GED, and have a valid Wisconsin driver's license or other such valid operator's permit
- Have completed a 2-year associate degree or 60 college-level credits from a technical college or equivalent accredited by the United States Secretary of Education by the end of the fifth year of employment
- Have not been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence unless the applicant has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon
- Pass drug tests, background checks, fingerprinting and other investigations as deemed necessary, and an oral interview
- Are fit mentally, emotionally and physically
Certification is available through the LESB. To become certified, applicants must be employed by law enforcement-related state agency, police department or sheriff's office. Certification is applied for by the agency on behalf of the officer.
Major Industries
Most police officers and sheriff's patrol officers in Wisconsin work for:
- County, city and tribal government
- Public university and college police forces
- School district police
- Agencies serving facilities and transportation systems
Major Employers
A few representative major employers of police officers and sheriff's patrol officers in Wisconsin include:
- Appleton Police Department (City Government)
- Green Bay Police Department (City Government)
- Kenosha Police Department (City Government)
- Madison Police Department (City Government)
- Milwaukee Police Department (City Government)
- Oshkosh Police Department (City Government)
- Racine Police Department (City Government)
- South Milwaukee Police Department WI (City Government)
- Waukesha Police Department (City Government)
- Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department WI (County Government)
- Racine County Sheriff's Department WI (County Government)
- Marathon County Sheriff's Department WI (County Government)
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