Salary: $34.00 - $43.59 Hourly
Location : Dane County Public Safety Building, 115 W Doty St, Madison, WI
Job Type: Full time (1.0FTE)
Job Number:Department: Sheriff's Office
Opening Date: 10/03/2026
Closing Date: 11/27/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: WPPA Deputies
DescriptionDane County offers a wide range of benefits including fully paid dental and HMO health insurance premiums for full time employees/pro-rated for part-time employees. The County will also provide contributions towards POS health insurance premiums and short/long term disability. Additional benefits available include long term care, vision coverage, flex spending account and deferred compensation programs paid in full by the employee and a wellness program (for further details visit www.countyofdane.com/emprel). Employees hired after 7-1-11 must be expected to work a minimum of 1200 hours annually to be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System when hired. Dane County also provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth or adoption of a child.
Equity, Definition and Examples of DutiesCOMMITMENT TO EQUITY & INCLUSIONAs an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence - the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
DEFINITIONUnder direction, to perform a full range of police duties necessary to enforce the law, investigate complaints, maintain order, supervise jail residents, aid individuals in danger of physical harm, identify criminal offenders and activity, apprehend offenders, identify law enforcement problems, resolve conflict, facilitate the movement of people and vehicles and provide other police services as required.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIESProcesses persons booked into jail; maintains security of residents and monitors their health and welfare; inspects resident housing units; searching and inventorying resident property; hourly security checks at irregular intervals; assist nursing staff administering medication; observes, recognizes and takes appropriate action on suspicious activity; prepares reports on activities; enforces jail rule violations; responds to calls for emergency service within our jail; assist with mental health crisis; respond to medical emergencies; escorts residents to and from attorney visits; check incoming mail for contraband; facilitate meal service; serves as witness in court proceedings; use communication skills to de-escalate a conflict or a potentially violent situation.
Enforces traffic laws and maintains traffic flow; responds to calls for emergency services; takes appropriate action on call for service such as investigation of criminal activity; takes appropriate action on non-criminal calls for service such as family and other disputes; responds to traffic accidents and takes appropriate action and completes reports; operates speed detection, Mobile Data Computer, TracS, and photographic equipment; checks establishments, residences and other property for signs of illegal activity and to detect and apprehend violators of the law; observes and takes appropriate action regarding physical hazards such as abandoned vehicles, injured animals, fire and safety hazards; observes, recognizes, and takes appropriate action on suspicious activity and conditions; uses communication equipment to keep in contact with department and report occurrences; intervenes in public and private disputes to maintain order and protect the public; serves as witness in court proceedings; provides emergency first aid and request further medical aid; assists in community events and other community law enforcement programs.
Education, Experience and Special RequirementsMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDSEducation and Experience High school graduation or its equivalency and two years of full-time attendance at college or two years of full-time work experience (military service will be considered as work experience). Must be a minimum of 21 years of age at time of appointment.
Note: Must meet State Law Enforcement Standards Board education requirements within 5 years of date of hire (explained in the following Post Employment Education Standard section).
Special RequirementsUnited States Citizen; Valid Wisconsin driver's license (or eligibility for such license) with good driving record; no criminal convictions; availability for night and weekend assignments and 24 hour on call status.
Physical RequirementsExcellent physical condition, including weight in proportion to height as guided by accepted medical standards; have binocular vision correctable to 20/20 and normal peripheral vision; must not have any significant eye disease; standard normal hearing; standard muscular strength, joint flexibility and coordination.
Post-Employment Education Standard If not achieved prior to employment, all Deputy Sheriffs must attain within five years of their employment either of the following:
1. A two-year associate degree from a Wisconsin vocational, technical, and adult education district or its accredited equivalent from another state or
2. Sixty fully accredited college level credits (the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board may waive up to thirty credits for equivalent experience, training or other qualifications).
Successful completion of the academy may result in up to 16 credits toward this requirement.
Failure to meet the above requirement will result in termination of employment. This is a requirement of the State of Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board for re-certification of law enforcement officers.
Pre-Employment StandardIn order to gain entrance into the 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy, you will need to successfully complete the state-required physical readiness test, passing the following entrance standards:
- 1.5 mile run in 20:20 or less
- 300 meter run in 82 seconds or less
- 18 push-ups
- 24 sit-ups
- Vertical jump of 11.5 inches minimum
- Agility run in 23.4 seconds or less
Once you successfully complete the test, the results are valid for 180 days.
During academy you will continue to work on physical training and you will be required to complete the test again and pass at the exit standards in order to graduate. The exit standards are:
- 1.5 mile run in 16:57 or less
- 300 meter run in 68 seconds or less
- 23 push-ups
- 30 sit-ups
- Vertical jump of 14 inches minimum
- Agility run in 19.5 seconds or less
Candidates to be placed on an eligible list for possible hiring consideration must satisfy each of the following successive steps:
1. Completely and accurately complete application procedure and satisfy minimum examination entrance requirements as specified in the Deputy Sheriff recruitment announcement.
2. Advancement to the Written Exam. Candidates will be considered for admission to written examination by the admissions committee based on candidate qualifications as demonstrated by their application information, and records checks (e.g., motor vehicle traffic violation record and criminal conviction record).
3. Completion of a written examination. This exam will be administered by Dane County Employee Relations Department and will be held on a weekday afternoon and on a Saturday in Madison. Exam notices specifying the date, time, and location for the exam will be emailed by the Dane County Employee Relations Department to candidates who successfully complete Steps 1 and 2 above (candidates who have taken this same exam within six months will have their exam score reused).
4. Candidates scoring above the established cutoff on the written exam may be considered for admission to oral examination/interview dependent on the hiring needs of the Sheriff's Office.
5. Candidates admitted by Step 4 above will complete an oral examination/interview. Candidates scoring above the established cutoff will be placed on an eligible list in rank order of their combined exam scores (candidate's score and rank will be emailed to them by Employee Relations).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities History of obedience to laws; must be able to use firearms; education and/or ability in reading, writing, reasoning and arithmetic equivalent to high school graduation; understanding of the basic principles of human relations and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; good character and reputation; must be a credible witness in court; ability to successfully complete recruit training academy satisfactorily (including 40 hours of firearms training); ability to swim or learn to swim during the probationary period; desirable to have experience with people of many types through employment or other activity.
Bilingual Pay: Employees who work in bilingual designated positions receive an additional $2.00 per hour.
Undesirable Hours Premium Pay: Employees may receive undesirable hours pay of $2.00 for anytime worked between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m and for anytime on Saturday and/or Sunday. (not applicable with all employee groups).
Paid Parental Leave: Dane County also provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth or adoption of a child.
Caregiver Leave: Dane County offers 80 hours of paid leave to care for an ill family member.
Telecommuting: Telecommuting allows employees to work remotely for all or part of their work week. Dane County considers telecommuting to be a viable, flexible option when both the employee and the job are suited to such an arrangement. Dane County will permit telecommuting when it benefits the productivity of the employee and their department and if determined by employee's department that telecommuting is not detrimental to either the County or the employee.
Student Loan Forgiveness: If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
WI Retirement System: Employees hired after 7-1-11 must be expected to work a minimum of 1200 hours annually to be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System when hired.
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