Police Officer - 2025

General Overview of Position

The Mission Statement of the Kenosha Police Department is “To Strengthen and Serve Our Community by Putting People First.” Our core values (R.I.S.E.) are Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence. We strive to embrace and promote this mission and our core values in all we do, providing police services, including but not limited to, responding to emergency and non-emergency calls, conducting preventative and directed patrols, enforcing municipal ordinances and state laws and engaging in public education and community engagement activities.

The Kenosha Police Department is seeking individuals who wish to make a positive impact within the community. This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants meeting the minimum qualifications. For more information about the recruitment process, please attend one of the recruit informational sessions. There will be a short presentation by the training sergeant and officers will be available to speak to you about the process and to answer any questions.

• Thursday, January 9, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

• Thursday, January 16, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Application Acceptance (December 13, 2024 – January 31, 2025): Online applications must be complete, thorough, and submitted online. Paper applications will not be accepted. We currently accept attachments with the following extensions: .bmp, .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpeg, .pdf, .png, .tif, .xls, and .xlsx. Attachments that are larger than five (5) megabytes will not be accepted. If your file is larger than five (5) megabytes, you will need to reduce the file size. Candidates submitting incomplete applications will be rejected and will not be permitted to participate in the written examination process. The supplemental questions asked of applicants will be used to determine minimally qualified applicants. Failure to complete the supplemental questions accurately may result in the elimination of applications from further consideration.
• Online Written Exam (February 10, 2025 – February 14, 2025): The City of Kenosha uses the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) by Stanard & Associates and the test must be taken online with webcam access. There are two study guides for the POST that candidates can purchase at their own expense. Study guides can be purchased here. Applicants must score a minimum of 70% to proceed to the next step in the process. All applicants are notified by email if they passed/failed the test.
• Panel Interviews (March 10, 2025 – March 14, 2025): If an applicant passes the written exam, they will receive an email notifying them to self-schedule their interview. An applicant will be disqualified if they do not respond. Applicants will answer a series of questions in front of a panel of evaluators. This component is intended to examine the applicant’s decision-making and communication skills as well as other traits such as character and ethics. Any life experience relating to public service and law enforcement should be shared. All applicants are notified by email if they passed/failed the interview.
• Chief Interviews (Tentatively week of March 24, 2025): If an applicant passes the panel interview, they will receive an email notifying them to self-schedule their interview with the Chiefs. Applicants are required to complete and submit their personal history packet at this interview. All applicants are notified by email if they passed/failed the interview.
• Eligibility List: Applicants that pass the entire testing process will be placed on the eligibility list to be considered for employment. The eligibility list will be developed based on the composite score of applicants who successfully pass the written exam and an oral panel interview. When a police officer vacancy occurs, Human Resources will provide applicants to the Police Chief from the eligibility list for a final interview. The applicants presented to the Police Chief are among the top ten (10) scoring and qualified candidates on the eligibility list for the first vacancy. For each additional vacancy, the Police Chief will receive up to five (5) names from the next highest scoring and qualified candidates. The Police Chief will use the eligibility list to fill vacancies for the next twelve (12) months or until ten or fewer candidates remain on the list. The list may be extended by the Police & Fire Commission up to an additional 6 months.
• Background Checks: As vacancies occur, the Chief will select candidates to go through the background check which includes criminal and civil records, driver's license records, employment history, education, current and previous landlord, neighbor and personal references, military and training history, social media accounts etc. Note: Not all applicants progress beyond the background phase.
• Conditional Offer (April 2025): Once the background check is complete, the Chief will review all information to determine if the applicant will continue in the hiring process. If an applicant doesn’t pass the background check, they will be eliminated from the process. If an applicant is being considered for employment, they will receive a conditional offer based on the applicant passing the Physical Readiness Test (PRT), Psychological Test, Drug Screening and Medical Evaluation. Human Resources will contact the applicant to schedule the psychological test, drug screening and physical exam. Results are then forwarded to the Chief and if an applicant passes each test, they will be given a formal job offer.
• Physical Readiness Test (PRT): In order to be admitted to the academy, candidates must pass a Physical Readiness Test (PRT) administered by academy staff. The chart shows the entrance and exit standards. Please click on the link for more details: Physical Readiness Test. The training sergeant will contact the applicant to schedule the PRT. If an applicant does not pass the Physical Readiness Test, they will be eliminated from the process.
  Physical Readiness Test

  
  Entrance Standards

  
  Exit Standards

  
  1.5 mile run

  
  20:20 minutes

  
  16:57 minutes

  
  300m run

  
  82 seconds

  
  68 seconds

  
  Push-ups

  
  18

  
  23

  
  Sit-ups

  
  24

  
  30

  
  Vertical Jump

  
  11.5 inches

  
  14 inches

  
  Agility Run

  
  23.4 seconds

  
  19.5 seconds

  
  
• Onboarding (July 17, 2025 - July 31, 2025): Recruit officers report to the Kenosha Police Department to receive their equipment and learn about the department. Physical Readiness Test (PRT). In order to be admitted to the academy, candidates must pass a Physical Readiness Test (PRT). The Physical Readiness Test is administered by academy staff. (Click on the link for details of the Physical Readiness Test and see the chart below with entrance and exit standards for the academy Physical Readiness Test.) The training sergeant will contact the applicant to schedule the PRT. If an applicant does not pass the Physical Readiness Test, they will be eliminated from the process.
• Police Academy (August 1, 2025): If an applicant is certified, they will participate in the Field Training Program at the KPD before being assigned to solo patrol. (Probationary period of 252 days) If an applicant is not certified, they are required to attend the Police Academy at Gateway for 720 hours before participating in the Field Training Program. (Probationary period of 352 days)
• Residency Requirement: Within one month after the completion of the 352 working day probationary period, the recruit officer must reside within Kenosha County, Racine County, Milwaukee, Walworth and Waukesha Counties as well as all of Lake County, Illinois.

Example of Duties & Responsibilities

• Must be willing and able to exemplify the core values of (R.I.S.E.) Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
• Provides information and/or assistance to the public, answers a wide range of non-police related service calls, informs citizens of available services in the community, promotes crime prevention through community and educational programs, makes presentations to public and local organizations concerning crime prevention and related police matters.
• Conducts routine preventative patrol in designated areas of the City, patrols residential/business areas for detection of violations, initiates contacts with both business operators and residents; maintains an open line of communications within the community.
• Responds to calls for police service, attempts to resolve domestic disputes, disturbances, and other incidents through counseling or referral, settles disputes among neighbors, juveniles and/or gangs; resolves any and all complaints from citizens of the community.
• Attempts to maintain the peace and safety of the community, responds to public disturbances, and maintains civil obedience at group functions.
• Provides for the safe and convenient flow of traffic and pedestrians within the community, investigates traffic accidents, enforces traffic violations, conducts driver intoxication investigations, promotes vehicular and pedestrian safety, reports unsafe road conditions.
• Conducts criminal and non-criminal investigations; performs surveillance; conducts follow-up investigations.
• Enforces laws and arrests lawbreakers, makes felony and misdemeanor arrests; issues notices to appear and traffic citations.
• Prepares written reports, forms and other documents as required.
• Testifies in criminal and civil court proceedings and gives depositions.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to speak and understand the English language.
• Completion of either a two-year Associate Degree or a minimum of 60 fully accredited college-level credits within 5 years of the date of hire pursuant to LES 2.01(1)(e).
• United States citizen.
• Attained the age of eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application.
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Wisconsin driver's license with a good driving record that meets the City standards.
• Have no physical, mental, or emotional conditions which could adversely affect their ability to perform the essential duties of the job.
• Must meet the vision standard set by the City.
• No loss of hearing within normal voice range.
• No felony convictions unless pardoned.
• Others required by law enforcement standards.

• Knowledge of federal laws, state statutes, and local ordinances.
• Knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the Kenosha Police Department.
• Knowledge of crime prevention techniques.
• Knowledge of First Responder and CPR.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with superiors, subordinates, and the general public.
• Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively.
• Ability to determine proper courses of action within the established framework of policies and procedures.
• Ability to learn the geography of the City and surrounding areas.
• Ability to maintain composure under emergency situations.
• Ability to work effectively under stressful conditions.
• Skills in the care and safe operation of a variety of firearms, impact weapons, and chemical agents.
• Skills in the operation of motorized vehicles under adverse conditions.
• Ability to work shift work.
• Ability to develop a working knowledge of departmental rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to learn and adapt to changing technologies and practices.
• Must possess ability to exercise discretion.

• Involves the regular, and at times sustained, performance of heavier physical tasks such as walking over rough or uneven surfaces, bending, stooping, working in confined spaces, and lifting or carrying moderately heavy (20-50 pounds) items and occasionally very heavy (100 pounds or over) items.
• Physical ability will be tested prior to entrance into a preparatory law enforcement officer training academy and again during Phase 3 of the academy.

• Task requires that work be performed in adverse environmental conditions

• Task requires color perception and discrimination with no impairment.
• Task requires sound perception and discrimination.
• Task requires odor perception and discrimination.
• Task requires depth perception and discrimination.
• Task requires texture perception and discrimination.
• Task requires visual perception and discrimination in each eye correctable to 20/20.
• Task requires oral communication ability.

Method of Selection

The hiring process will consist of an application period, written test, oral panel interview, Chief's interview, a physical readiness test, psychological evaluation, and a medical examination including a drug screen (in accordance with the American's With Disabilities Act - ADA.) The passing grade of a 70% on the written examination shall be established using acceptable statistical techniques and consideration of the needs of the City. Applicants must pass each portion of the examination process. Selected applicants will also be subjected to a background investigation of their work history and other factors considered important for successful job performance.