There are many police departments in the  State of Wisconsin that do not require extensive training to become a police officer. Together we can push to make the necessary changes!

Listed below are the MINIMUM requirements to become a police officer in the state of Wisconsin:

1. High school diploma or GED
2. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
3. US Citizenship
4. A two-year associate degree from a Wisconsin technical college system district or its accredited equivalent from another state or a minimum of 60 fully accredited credits (semester credits) or 90 accredited quarter credits.
5. Valid Wisconsin driver’s license
6. No felony conviction or any misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
7. Submit fingerprint records
8. Undergo background investigation
9. Good physical, emotional or mental condition
10. Undergo a physical assessment
11. Pass Oral Interview with the employing agency
12. Submit to a drug test

For the duties and responsibilities that these men/woman perform on a daily basis and for the communities in which they serve, it is necessary to improve the training received prior to entering and while in our communities. It is also necessary to implement training as needed and for it to be mandatory to continue employment.

Suggestions to improve the training would be but are not limited to:

1. To increase the educational requirement to a 4 year degree in law enforcement related coursework or its accredited equivalent.
2. No felony or misdemeanor convictions of any type.
3. (If not already implemented) Random drug tests. Tests not to just occur if there is an incident.
4. Diversity Training upon being hired into a department. Then retraining on a yearly/bi-yearly basis.
5. An additional 90 days or more of on the job training in the field. This is an addition to preexisting field training.
6. Mental health awareness training upon being hired into a department. Then retraining on a yearly/bi-yearly basis.