Police Officer

Salary : $67,225.60 - $87,360.00 Annually
Location : 515 Grand Avenue, Wausau, WI
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 202600535
Department: Police
Division: Patrol Division
Opening Date: 06/25/2026
Closing Date: 7/15/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Non-Exempt


Purpose of the Position


The Wausau Police Department believes strongly in our mission. The Wausau Police Department strives for excellence in policing by partnering with the community to enhance the quality of life. To accomplish this mission, it is imperative we find people who have the right character traits to work in our community as police officers. Professionalism, Integrity, Accountability, and Respect are the values at the core of our agency. We have more than 40,000 calls for service annually and we utilize our philosophy of community oriented policing to foster relationships and find solutions for problems in our community. Because of the wide variety of assistance police officers must provide within the community along with the complexity of policing, the law enforcement profession presents more challenges than ever. Officers must be able to adapt quickly and problem solve effectively. Education and training are vital to the success of our organization.


This recruitment is open to candidates who have successfully completed the Wisconsin 720 Law Enforcement Academy, or are a certified Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officer, or are a certified Law Enforcement Officer with at least one year of service from another state who want to make a positive difference in the lives of people in our community.

City of Wausau Police Department Website:
City of Wausau Police Department Facebook page:
City of Wausau Police Department Showcase Video:
PURPOSE OF POSITION: The purpose of this position is general duty police work involving protection of life and property, enforcement of laws, crime investigation, and service to the public. The employee has a significant impact of the quality of life through community partnership, strategic police patrols, and thorough investigations.

The City of Wausau is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss accommodations with the employer.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Patrols police sector in squad car, police bicycle, police motorcycle, or on foot to prevent or discover the commission of crime and traffic violations.
2. Enforces City of Wausau ordinances and the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
3. Operates a police vehicle in normal and emergency mode, day and night conditions, and during times of inclement weather and congested traffic.
4. Responds to citizen calls for service and provide assistance as necessary.
5. Investigates crime and other incidents, identify, collect and preserve evidence, identify and interview witnesses, issues citations and arrest criminals.
6. Exercises independent judgment in determining reasonable suspicion to detain, probable cause to search and arrest, and use of force.
7. Maintains working knowledge of criminal law as well as current police procedures.
8. Investigates juvenile complaints and communicate with juveniles and parents/guardians.
9. Prepares written documentation of police activities.
10. Communicates police action in criminal and civil court proceedings.
11. Problem solves with community members, business owners, and other city employees.
12. Maintains City of Wausau core values.
13. Efficiently operates computer systems for a variety of tasks
14. Performs basic CPR and first aid as needed.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform special assignments as assigned by supervisor.
• Attend and participate in neighborhood group meetings.
• Speak in front of citizen groups.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Requirements for this Recruitment Process

• United States Citizenship
• Minimum age 21
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of 60 credits from an accredited university, college, or technical school
• Successful completion of the Wisconsin 720 Law Enforcement Academy, or a certified Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officer, or a certified Law Enforcement Officer with at least one year of service from another state
• Ability to obtain and possess a valid Driver's License issued by the state of Wisconsin
• Have no criminal convictions which would limit the ability to possess a firearm

Candidates will be required to participate in a polygraph examination containing potential subject areas of excessive physical force against others, illegal drug use, commission of crimes, lying, and lying about anything in the polygraph screening booklet. Polygraph examination results will not be the sole determinant of employment with the City of Wausau Police Department.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to read, interpret and explain City of Wausau ordinances and Wisconsin State Statutes.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with citizens, co-workers, supervisors, and others from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to operate equipment and machinery requiring simple but continuous adjustments, such as computer keyboard/terminal, police radio, telephone, firearms and restraint devices.
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing semi-skilled movements such as self-defense, firearms use, operation of a motor vehicle, data entry and assembling.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Ability to run, jump, push, pull, drive safely at high speeds and in adverse conditions.
• Ability to physically apprehend and subdue suspects.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, forms, sounds, tastes, odors and textures associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks.
• Ability to remain calm, composed, undistracted and in full control of cognitive abilities while functioning appropriately in hostile, dangerous or fearful situations that require force, up to and including deadly force.
• Ability to use discretion effectively to determine a proper course of action consistent with a community-oriented, problem-solving approach to policing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of employment.
• Ability to adequately use and properly care for firearms and other police equipment.

Physical and Working Environment Regular exposure to disagreeable and environmental conditions. Exposed to one or more particularly disagreeable elements such as continuous high noise level, considerable dust, heat, and humidity. Personal protective equipment regularly used. Regular travel throughout City.
Ability to work under mildly unsafe and uncomfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as potential violence, machinery and disease can cause discomfort and where there is a risk of injury.

Additional Information


IMPORTANT! All applications must be completely filled out and have a Resume attached in the "Attachments" section of the application. Applications that are not complete and do not have the required attachment will not be considered.
When completing References section, include 3 professional references with current and valid email addresses.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
The selection procedure may consist of any or all of the following: Written Test, Initial Interview, Physical Ability Evaluation, FTO (Field Training Officer) Review, Initial Command Interview, Background Investigation, Final Command Interview, Polygraph Examination, Police & Fire Commission Interview, Psychological Evaluation, and Physical Examination with Alcohol/Drug Screening. Other procedures may be included as necessary.

NOTICE REGARDING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION: The Polygraph Examination includes the potential subject areas of excessive physical force against another, illegal drug use, commission of crimes, lying, and lying about anything in the polygraph screening booklet. Polygraph examination results will not be the sole determinant of employment with the City of Wausau Police Department.

SALARY INFORMATION:
Per the current agreement between the City of Wausau and the Professional Police Association. current rates for Police Officer are $32.32 - $42.00 per hour. Please see pages 31 of the current labor agreement for more information:


LATERAL ENTRY FOR POLICE OFFICERS:
Upon receipt of a request for lateral entry submitted to the Police Chief, with a copy to the Human Resources Director, if the requester has no less than three years of continuous employment as a full-time law enforcement officer, the Police Chief may approve the request at his or her sole discretion. If approved, the candidate will receive a full year salary credit for his/her past full-time law enforcement years of service and thereafter advance accordingly. The following compensation will be established commensurate with the chart provided in Appendix A, with the award of service credit incorporated therein.

For the purpose of Appendix A, the term "Years of service" for the lateral entry program shall be defined as full-time law enforcement experience. Years of service shall be recognized at the time of hire, used for all actions under Appendix A after completion of Field Training, and annotated in the Lateral Officer's initial appointment letter.


If approved, the candidate will also receive a full year of vacation credit for his/her past full-time law enforcement years of service up to six years and thereafter advance accordingly. The candidate will be subject to an 18-month probationary period, beginning at his/her date of hire.

RESIDENCY INFORMATION: Per Article 32 of the Wausau Professional Police Association Labor Agreement, all law enforcement personnel must reside within thirty (30) miles of the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Wausau. Such residence must be established within six months after the completion of the 18 month probationary period. Failure to do this will result in loss of employment.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:
The City of Wausau will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Human Resources Department or phone View phone number on click.appcast.io to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant's application, records, recommendations and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the City not provide access to this information.

If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Human Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law.

ADDITIONAL NOTICES:
The City of Wausau is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The City of Wausau offers competitive salaries and a range of excellent benefits as follows:

• State of Wisconsin Retirement Plan
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending for Health and Dependent Care
• Annual Biometric Health Screenings - free to all employees on a health plan
• Wellness Programs
• Optional Life Insurance
• Optional Long Term Disability Insurance
• Optional Critical Illness Insurance
• Optional Accident Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
• Employee Assistance Program - Available to all employees and family members at no cost to the employee
• Paid Leaves
  • Vacation - earned by years of service
  • 10 Holidays
  • Personal Holiday - 2 paid days on an annual basis
  • Perfect Attendance - paid hours for perfect attendance
  • Sick Leave - hours accumulate on a bi-weekly basis
• Uniform Allowance
• Longevity Pay

01


Are you a United States Citizen?

• Yes
• No

02


Are you at least twenty-one (21) years old?

• Yes, I am 21 years of age or older.
• No, I am under the age of 21.

03


What is the highest level of education that you have received?

• Some High School
• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
• Skills Certificate/Technical Diploma
• Some College/No Degree
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate Degree

04


Do you have at least 60 credits from an accredited university, college, or tech school?

• Yes
• No

05


This recruitment is for candidates who have successfully completed the Wisconsin 720 Law Enforcement Academy, or are a certified Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officer, or are a certified Law Enforcement Officer with at least one year of service from another state.Which of the following describes your current status:

• I have successfully completed the Wisconsin 720 Law Enforcement Academy.
• I am a certified Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officer.
• I am a certified Law Enforcement Officer with at least one year of service from another state.
• None of the above.

06


Do you possess, or have the ability to possess, a valid driver's license issued by the state of Wisconsin?

• Yes, I have a valid WI driver's license
• I have a valid driver's licensed issued by a state other than WI and have the ability to obtain a valid WI driver's license
• No, I do not have the ability to obtain a valid WI driver's license

07


Do you have a criminal conviction which would limit your ability to possess a firearm?

• Yes
• No

08


Qualifying veterans and certain spouses of veterans may receive veteran preference points, in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes. "Qualifying" means you, or your spouse, meet the definition of a "veteran" as indicated below."Veteran" means a person who fulfills at least one of the following requirements:1. Served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for at least 180 days, not including training.2. Was discharged from the U.S. armed forces because of a disability incurred during active duty or because of a disability that is later adjudicated by the U.S. department of veteran affairs to have been incurred during active duty.3. Was honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces.4. Is eligible to receive federal veterans' benefits.A copy of the veteran's undeleted (indicates type of discharge) DD-214 will be required to be attached to your application for verification. If you have a service-connected disability, a copy of the rating decision will be required to be attached to your application for verification.

• I am not a veteran.
• I am a veteran without a disability.
• I am a veteran with a disability rating of less than 30%.
• I am a veteran with a disability rating of at least 30%.
• I am a spouse of a veteran with whose disability rating is at least 70%.
• I am an un-remarried spouse of a veteran who was killed in action.
• I am an un-remarried spouse of a veteran who died from a service-connected disability.

Required Question