Deputy Sheriff - Certified/Certification Eligible

• Have you successfully completed the State of Wisconsin’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy? You may be awarded five (5) application points for higher placement on the eligibility list.
• Are you a certified, sworn law enforcement officer from another jurisdiction, in the State of Wisconsin? You may be awarded five (5) application points for higher placement on the eligibility list.
• Are you a certified, sworn law enforcement office outside the State of Wisconsin? Seek reciprocity through the State of Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) – Officer Training, Employment, and Reciprocity | WILENET (widoj.gov)

If you can answer yes to one of the three questions, we invite you to apply for the position of Deputy Sheriff with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office. Our employees enjoy a challenging work environment and have opportunities for career development and professional growth which include K-9 Unit, Marine Unit, Tactical Response Team, Drone Unit, Traffic Interdiction Unit, Bomb Squad, School Resource Officers, and many more.

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

January 4, 2026 hiring rate - $33.50/hour

Lateral transfer consideration for experienced officers.

Benefits include State of Wisconsin retirement, paid vacation, health and dental insurance; uniform, duty weapon, and protective vest are supplied.


A take-home patrol vehicle program is also available for Deputies who complete their probation and are assigned to the patrol division.

KESO is a certified VA Apprenticeship Employer for Veterans interested in using their GI Bill benefits.

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.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• 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 various inland lakes; evidentiary recovery dive team; community relations work 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 is a 24 hour/day, 7 day/week operation.
• Employees must work holidays and weekends and must be able to work any of the existing shifts. Days off will rotate.
• Must be able to work overtime when needed, with or without advance notice.

REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to meet physical, mental, and psychological qualifications of a Deputy
• Ability to perform certified law enforcement officer duties to include: performing traffic stops, responding to high-risk calls, controlling large crowds at events, and all other law enforcement-related activities
• Ability to function in situations which may rapidly change from those during routine patrol operations to those which are emergencies and highly stressful and dangerous

QUALIFICATIONS

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

• Must be a citizen of the United States; and
• Must be not less than twenty and a half (20 ½) years of age at time of application and not less than twenty-one (21) years of age upon date of hire; and
• May not have been convicted at any time of a felony, unless the judgment or conviction has been reversed.

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 two-year Associate Degree from an accredited institution; or
• A minimum of sixty 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
  
  • Applicants who are State of WI Certified Law Enforcement Officers, must provide an Acadis report documenting employment and certification.
  • Applicants who are State of Wisconsin Certification Eligible Law Enforcement Officers, must provide proof of completion of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
  • Applicants who are out of state certified law enforcement officers, must provide proof of granted reciprocity or proof of reciprocity eligibility through the State of Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB).
• Entrance Examination
• Determination of Preference Points
  
  • Applicant must provide DD-214 (Member-4 Copy), if applicable

Eligible candidates from this posting will be consolidated into the current Deputy Sheriff eligibility list running concurrent with this posting. 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

Candidates who pass these steps and are selected by the Sheriff for conditional employment will 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 provides an equitable system of recruitment, selection, promotion, and retention for Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office Deputies. Any candidate who has been decertified from an eligibility list and failed to progress in the recruitment process at any point may not sit again for the examination until one year has passed from the date of the previous examination.


RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

The position of Deputy Sheriff is covered by the Kenosha County Civil Service Ordinance. The Civil Service Ordinance has an established residency boundary which is twenty (20) miles in any direction from the borders of Kenosha County. Successful candidates must meet residency requirements within nine months of hire and maintain for duration of employment.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

• To learn more about the Sheriff's Office, please visit: Sheriff's Office | Kenosha County, WI - Official Website
• If you choose to apply by uploading a resume or through your LinkedIn profile, be sure all your employment, including summer and part-time employment while attending school, is included. All time must be accounted for. If unemployed for a period of time, state the dates of unemployment.
• All candidates who pass the application review will be required to take the entrance examination.
• Information regarding the time and location of the exam will be sent to each applicant at the e-mail address you provide in your application. Please note, initial correspondence will be by e-mail, not home phone, mobile phone, or text, even if you choose another preferred contact method when submitting your application. Be sure to monitor your e-mail, including clutter, junk, spam, etc. so you do not miss the message about the entrance exam.

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: or

Thank you for your interest in employment with Kenosha County!

Equal Opportunity Employer


This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.