Hiring Process

Application and Hiring Process Overview:

After submitting your completed application to become a Wauwatosa police officer, you can expect to take part in an in-depth hiring process.

After submitting your completed application to become a Wauwatosa police officer, you can expect to take part in an in-depth hiring process.

Application Scoring

All applications are scored and may receive up to 50 points based on the following allocations:

Education

(14 points maximum: Points awarded for highest level earned)

• • Graduate Degree:          14 points
  • Bachelor’s Degree:         12 points
  • Associate’s Degree:          8 points
  • 90+ College Credits (no degree):     6 points
  • 60-89 College Credits (no degree):  2 points

Law Enforcement Certification & Sworn Service

(18 points maximum)

Certification: WI Certified / Certifiable; Out-of-State Certification eligible for reciprocity; or Actively enrolled in a WI Law Enforcement Academy:   8 points

Sworn Law Enforcement Experience / Full-Time (min. 32 hrs./week)

• Must be employed with a single agency for a minimum of two years to qualify for service points from that agency.
• Each year of completed full-time experience: 2 points (Maximum: 10 points)

Sworn Law Enforcement Experience / Part-Time (15-21 hrs./week)

• Must be employed with a single agency for a minimum of two years to qualify for service points from that agency.
• If part-time years are concurrent with full-time years, the part-time years cannot earn points.
• Each year of completed part-time experience: 1 point (Maximum: 8 points)

Non-sworn Law Enforcement Agency Service

(6 points maximum)

Non-Sworn Police Agency Employment

• Ex: Community Service Officer, Police Aide, Tele-communicator, Police Clerk, Dispatcher, Corrections. Must be paid positions. Must have a minimum of one year of service to earn points, and must have a minimum of 240 hours in one year to earn points for that year.
• Internships do not earn points.

Non-Sworn Police Agency Volunteer Positions

• Ex: Police Reserve, Explorer, etc. (volunteer). Must be unpaid positions. Must have a minimum of one year of service to earn points, and must have a minimum of 100 hours in one year to earn points for that year.

Both both paid and volunteer service outlined above:

• Wauwatosa Police Department positions (CSO or Reserve): 3 points per year, maximum of 6 points
• All other agencies: 1 point per year, maximum of 3 points

Military Service

(12 points maximum)

Active Duty

• Military Police: 2 points per year, maximum of 12 points
• Non-Military Police: 1 point per year, maximum of 12 points

Guard / Reserve

• Military Police: 2 points per year, maximum of 12 points
• Non-Military Police: 1 point per year, maximum of 12 points

Physical Agility Testing

After the applications are verified for minimum requirements, and are scored, the top 60 applicants will be invited to participate in a physical agility test. The physical agility test consists of three phases: pushups, sit-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. The standards are in alignment with the Wisconsin LESB Physical Fitness Exit Standards for the Law Enforcement Academy. The test has a pass or fail standard.

• To achieve a passing score, participants must meet the following minimum standard:
  • A minimum of 23 push-ups in one minute
  • A minimum of 30 sit-ups in one minute
  • A 1.5 mile run that is completed in 16 minutes, 57 seconds (or faster)

Written Evaluative Survey

Applicants who pass the physical agility test will complete a written evaluative survey. The top 25 applicants, based on application score, will have their evaluative survey scored to produce a combined application and survey score. The top 12 finalists will be invited to participant in the Assessment Center, and 3 additional finalists will be invited as alternates.

Assessment Center

• The assessment center is an extensive, half-day evaluation process. It involves exercises that allow candidates to exhibit their abilities in decision making, communication, initiative, adaptability, judgment, interpersonal sensitivity, and maturity.
• The candidates will be evaluated by current Wauwatosa Police employees of all ranks.
• Candidates should anticipate the process lasting four hours.

Oral Interview with Police and Fire Commissioners

Candidates who successfully pass the assessment center will be invited to take place in a formal interview with the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission. Candidates approved by the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission will receive a conditional offer of employment to be hired as a Wauwatosa police officer. If there are no immediate openings, successful candidates will be placed on an eligibility list, which is valid for 18 months.

Final Pre-Hire Background and Testing

When a candidate is selected for hire, he or she must complete the following pre-hire steps:

• Background Investigation
• Medical Examination
• Drug Screening
• Psychological Evaluation
• Final Approval of the Chief of Police