Patrol Officer

JOB SUMMARY The job duties of the Patrol Officer include but are not limited to act as the official representative of the office of the Sheriff and accomplish the goals of the patrol division by detecting and preventing potential criminal activity through residential/business and building patrols; enforcing traffic laws for the purpose of reducing property damage, personal injury or death resulting from traffic crashes; and by using good relations with the public, promote community, government and police partnerships to address the causes of crime, fear of crime, and other community issues.

The powers and duties are extended through the deputation by the sheriff and are conferred by statute. The fundamental duties of a deputy sheriff include serving the community; safe guard lives and property; protecting the innocent; keeping the peace; and ensuring the rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.

Click here for full position description and search: Patrol Officer. 

To view pre-employment physical requirements for the Patrol Officer position, click here.

Interviews will be conducted the week of Monday, February 17th - Friday, February 21st 2025. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties described below are indicative of what the Patrol Officer might be asked to perform. This job description is to incorporate any county ordinances created for the position of Patrol Officer. This is not an exhaustive list of job responsibilities and therefore other duties may be assigned:

 1.       Complete an intensive minimum 10-week field training program.

·         Be evaluated on a daily basis in 23 specific categories in the areas of Appearance, Attitude, Knowledge, Performance and Relationships.

·         Become oriented with the organizational structure of the Sheriff’s office and how the office fits into the organizational structure of the county government.

·         Become familiar with department work schedules.

·         Must be able to follow a proper chain of command.

·         Must be able to follow directions.

 2.       Patrol assigned areas of the county to discover and prevent the omission of crimes and enforces County Ordinances and State Laws.

·         Become familiar with all geographical aspects of the county including patrol areas, townships, and cities/villages, including learning the roads and address mapping system.

·         Establish and maintain good public relations with all members of the county community.

·         Become familiar and proficient in all radio communication.

·         Become proficient in emergency vehicle operations including operating in all weather conditions, stress conditions, and knowing legal responsibility while operating as well as legal authority during operation.

·         Conduct motor vehicle contacts in conjunction with the goals, policies and procedures of the department.  Motor vehicle contacts may include OWI enforcement, minor traffic violations, high speed pursuits, high risk stops (felony), and drug and criminal interdiction contacts.  Contacts also may require the issuing of citations, warnings, and also make arrests.

·         Possess the ability to interpret and enforce laws/ordinances.

 3.       Answer all calls for service, conduct preliminary investigations, gathers evidence, obtains witnesses, makes arrests, escorts prisoners from the scene of a crime, and detains anyone wanted through the serving of warrants.

·         Be able to respond to and handle calls for service including juvenile complaints, death investigations, vehicle thefts, animal complaints, alcohol related incidents, emergency detentions, nuisance and threatening phone calls, sexual assaults, and domestic disturbances.  (Not an all-inclusive list.)

·         Be knowledgeable about both state statute and county ordinances and be able to apply either one depending on the incident.

·         Issues citations, makes arrests, and answers citizen complaints.

·         Respond to and handle hazardous calls and alarms while taking into account any tactical considerations including tactical approach, safety of yourself and victims, and safety of general public.

·         Ability to gather information and write clear concise reports.

·         Direct traffic at special events and perform escort duties.

·         Be able to effectively and legally conduct searches and seizures, execute search warrants, and serve arrest warrants.  

·         Be able to distinguish when arrest, search or seizure is appropriate without a warrant based on case law and statute authorizing such action.

·         Be able to conduct effective interviews of complainants, victims, witnesses, and suspects of all types and when necessary, give proper Miranda warnings and complete interrogation of suspect.

·         Manage case load and bring minor cases to conclusion.

·         Conduct follow up investigations when necessary.

·         Have knowledge of evidence identification, collection, and securement.

·         Control, secure, and preserve a crime scene for investigation unit.

·         Handle all calls with tact, diplomacy, and only the amount of force necessary to control the situation.  Must be able not only justify the use of force, but also be able to articulate into written form the incident.  Must be knowledgeable on state guidelines as well as department policy on the justification and use of force.

·         Be able to complete timely, accurate, legible, detailed incident reports which objectively document relevant information about an incident.  Must appear in court as a witness and present testimony to judge/jury.

·         Renders first aid, maintains certification in CPR, Intoxilizer, PBT, Radar and other areas as identified by the department.

 4.       Investigates automobile crashes and assists fire departments and ambulance personnel.

·         Conduct all aspects of motor vehicle crash investigation.

·         Arrive and assess the scene and make a determination as to what additional resources are needed such as extra fire personnel, extra ambulances, tow trucks, extra personnel for traffic control, etc.  Also be able to provide first aid until medical personnel arrive.

·         Be able to process the scene of the crash to include photographs, field sketches, marking and measuring vehicles, tire marks and other debris.  Conduct interviews of drivers, witnesses and passengers and when necessary, issue citations.

·         Be able to investigate alcohol related crashes and have the knowledge of case law, state statute and general rules of evidence to legally procure evidence such as blood samples of operators.

 5.       Must operate within the policies and guidelines of the department.

·         Must maintain your assigned department vehicle as covered by policy.  Including keeping up with scheduled maintenance of the vehicle, maintaining a written log of vehicle inventory, maintaining a clean professional appearance of the vehicle, and performing regular inspections of the vehicle and equipment.

·         Maintain LESB certification, radar certification, and firearms certification by participating in regularly scheduled department firearms training.

·         Must also maintain uniform and personal professional appearance per department policy.  Including wearing the specified uniform for the time of year (i.e., winter/summer, approved head gear, personal grooming standards, and any other approved clothing)

·         Assist in serving civil process papers which include serving restraining orders, injunctions, eviction notices, subpoenas, complaint and summons, etc.

·         Perform other duties as requested or needed.

·         Maintains daily records of activity, prepares reports that are accurate and timely according to department policy.

 Customers:

• All County employees, elected officials, and managers, excluding those in the Sheriff’s Office.

·         Anyone of the general public, including vendors.  

 Team Members:

• Members of the Sheriff’s Office (Telecom/Investigations/Patrol/Jail/Clerical)

 Special Assignments:

The following assignments may be designated by the Sheriff.  If accepted by a Patrol Officer, below are some of the additional duties associated with the assignment:

Courthouse Security Officer:

·            Coordinate with the Circuit Court Judges, District Attorney, Clerk of Courts, and Family Court Commissioners to provide courtroom security/surveillance in the Chippewa County Courthouse.

·            Must be capable of using tact and diplomacy in dealing with Judges, Clerk of Courts, District Attorney’s Office, County Officials/Department Heads, their employees, as well as private attorneys and the general public using the courthouse complex.  Must be self-motivated and able to work independently of others.  Must display positive public relations skills, positive work ethic, and positive attitude.

·            Conduct periodic foot patrol in and around the courthouse complex when not required to be present in court.  Must be able to deal with the general public in person, by phone, or in writing.  Must have the ability to use appropriate tact, fairness, firmness, and good judgment when handling stressful situations.

·            Assist the Jail staff in the orderly movement of inmates inside the courthouse.

·            Investigates threats within the Court system and responds to courthouse office security alarms.  Deals with disruptive and disorderly persons in and around the courthouse and makes arrests when necessary.

·            Maintains courteous communications with public, providing general information and directions.

·            Serve as “first responder” to critical incidents in and around the courthouse complex.  Assists other first responder personnel (ie, fire/ems).

·            Serves warrants, summons, court orders, and other civil process documents as directed.

K-9 Deputy:

·         Provide officer safety, assist in search and rescue, and assist in tracking of suspects and missing persons, illegal drug detection, and community relation events. 

·         Assist other municipalities and other divisions within the Sheriff’s Office when requested.  

·         Assist area school districts and other government entities in conducting drug searches of their campuses when requested.  

·         Participate in all mandated K9 training and annual recertification.

·         Participate in public community relations events.    

 Recreation Officer:

·         Patrol the County Forest and water ways as well as other recreational areas in the County.  

·         Instruct ATV, Boating, and Snowmobile Safety Programs.  

·         Participate in public recreational safety forums and other community relations events.  

·         Works closely with the DNR Wardens and State auditor.  

·         In partnership with the DNR investigate boat, snowmobile, and ATV crashes.  

·         Assists with water search, rescue, and recovery missions.  

·         Enforcement of all DNR codes and laws as well as State laws.  

·         Assist with investigation of crimes involving ATVs, Boats or Snowmobiles.  

·         Report any safety hazards located on trails or waterways.  

 Drug Officer:

·         Investigate illicit drug manufacturing and distribution and drug related criminal activity.  

·         Works in partnership with investigation divisions within the entire West Central Drug Task force jurisdiction.    

·         Works in partnership with Federal, State, and local authorities in investigating and prosecution narcotic related crimes.  

·         Coordinate, plan, and participate in high risk and low risk search warrants, knock and talks, and ACT 79 searches.  

·         This position may require overnight travel and extended working hours.  

·         Works with confidential informant’s investigation drug related crimes.

·         May be required to work in an undercover capacity investigating drug related crimes.

·         Participate in public information forums and other community relations events.  

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required at the time of hire or for the continuation of employment. 

 EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Law Enforcement Standards Board Certified, certifiable, or possess an equivalent out of state certification at time of hire (must complete WI Certification upon hire). (720 hour basic recruit training completed).
• Possess minimum education requirements if employed in Law Enforcement after 1993 required.  (60 college credits from an accredited college as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.)
• High school graduate or GED required.
• Prior Law Enforcement experience preferred.
• A valid driver’s license required.
• No felony or domestic misdemeanor or any offense, which, if committed in Wisconsin, could be punished as felony or domestic misdemeanor unless the applicant has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon.

 Pre-employment and Post- Offer Testing:

• Successfully pass an extensive background investigation. 
• Successfully pass a post-employment-offer physical exam and agility screening.
• Successfully pass a non-DOT drug screen and respiratory fit test. 
• Successfully pass a psychological examination.  
• Failure to pass these will result in the employment offer being revoked.

Salary : $29 - $33