Police Officer I

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title:

Police Officer I

Job Category:

University Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Police Officer I

Job Duties:

The Division of Administration and Finance is committed to providing quality campus services to faculty, staff, students, and external constituencies in support of the university’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. The division includes Facilities Planning & Management, Budget, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, and Police & Parking Services.

Under the supervision of the Police Sergeant and in consultation with the Chief of Police Services, the Police Officer will provide enforcement and protection services to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. The work affects the safety of University property, students, faculty, staff and the general public while they are on the University grounds, and insures compliance with all applicable campus, state, and local rules and laws. This position will patrol University buildings and grounds as well as perform investigative duties as needed.

Serves as a Campus Security Authority as defined by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus crime Statistics Act (Clery Act).

The UW-La Crosse Police Department offers a sponsorship for the Wisconsin Department of Justice 720-Hour Law Enforcement Academy. A sponsorship will be offered when an applicant successfully passes the interview panel, background check, medical screening by a physician, psychological testing, drug screening, and meeting with the Chief of Police.

This position is eligible for shift differential pay. When working anytime after 5pm and on weekends there is an $0.80 shift differential pay.

 The review of applications starts on September 23, 2026. Applications received on or before September 23rd are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus. 

UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Provides protection of life, property, and the preservation of peace and good order and provides emergency aid to the institutional community

• Engages in problem solving, threat mitigation, and conflict resolution for a wide range of issues and incidents involving citizens, groups, campus entities, government agencies, businesses, leaders, and others

• Performs preliminary and follow-up investigations to solve crimes, identify suspects and victims, apprehend criminals, and document case information

• Ensures the safe and orderly flow of traffic on institutional roadways and enforces traffic laws

• Provides personal safety and crime prevention education to institutional community

Department:

University Police Department

Compensation:

$28.08 / hour

Required Qualifications:

• Applicants must be certifiable, or have completed the 720-hour academy, or be currently enrolled & will complete a WI Department of Justice “Law Enforcement Recruit " training course, & be eligible for certification upon employment by WI Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) as a Law Enforcement Officer or be a certified Law Enforcement Officer in another state and eligible for certification by WI LESB. 60 college credits and 21 years of age or older is required.

• Possess a valid Wisconsin driver’s license or a valid driver’s license from another state.

• Authorization to drive a University vehicle is required.

• The ability to perform the essential functions of a police officer.

• The ability to use all standard law enforcement equipment (e.g. firearm and ammunition, radio/video/photography equipment, TASER Electronic Control Device, etc.).

• Knowledge of evidence preservation techniques including photography and other standard evidence collection techniques.

• Knowledge of emergency vehicle operation procedures and ability to drive a vehicle in emergency mode.

• Knowledge of the proper preparation of all reports, forms, and processing of arrested persons.

• Knowledge of crowd management techniques.

• Knowledge of appropriate state and federal statutes, laws, and administrative rules and regulations.

• Knowledge of investigation and arrest techniques.

• The ability to observe and accurately recall facts or details about persons, events, accidents or crime scenes, physical conditions, and individuals’ behavior.

• Effective written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Effective public relations techniques to communicate clearly and concisely, interact with, and be respectful of a diverse community of students, co-workers, faculty/staff, guests, and the general public.

• The ability to maintain proficiency in technical aspects of law enforcement (e.g. CPR, first aid, AED, defensive tactics, firearms qualification, physical fitness, and emergency vehicle operation).

• Basic computer skills to perform data entry and retrieval (e.g. word processing, database, and internet).

Education:

Associate Degree or 60 credited hours from an accredited university.

How to Apply:

Required application documents

Cover letter

Resume

3-5 References with contact information

Contact Information:

Sgt Nicholas Ames [email protected]

Special Notes:

Application deadlines 
TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Priority consideration is given to those candidates who apply by the listed ‘First Review Date’. Applications received after that date may be considered at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact the Office of Human Resources. 

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials 
UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request. 
 
CBC & Reference Check Policy 
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. 

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) 
For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.uwlax.edu/student-life/student-resources/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9000. 

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BENEFITS 
Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university. 
Highlights include: 

• Paid vacation for 12-month positions. 

• Excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage. 

• Paid holidays and paid sick days.

• After 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career. 

• Benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation. 

 
Benefit eligibility is determined at the point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.