Employment

General

The Portage County Sheriff's Office employs 114 professionals from a variety of backgrounds. There are 112 full-time employees; 48 sworn law enforcement officers, 34 corrections officers, 21 telecommunications professionals, and 9 administrative, support, emergency management, and emergency medical specialists. Additionally, we employ 2 part-time telecommunications professionals.

The requirements for each position vary, and the application process may also be different from position to position. We'll give you a short summary of each position that we employ, special requirements, and instructions for applying, but this is not all-encompassing and is intended to be a summary of the information. Check the JOBS tab at the left for more detail.

We'll try and keep this page current, but the most current employment opportunities can be found at the Human Resources Department's job openings page. You can take a shortcut to each open position by clicking the position.

Visit the [Human Resources' Job Openings page].

Benefits

Portage County offers a robust benefits package for this position. Benefits include;

• State of Wisconsin Retirement Plan
• Health insurance- your choice of two health plans- (Health Savings Account associated with the High Deductible Health Plan with a County contribution)
• Vacation
• Paid holidays
• Sick leave
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance- premium paid by the County
• Long-term disability insurance- premium paid by the County
• Dental Insurance
• 457B Deferred Compensation Plan

Positions

Deputy Sheriff

Position Description

Deputy sheriffs, or sheriff's deputies, enforce local, state, and federal laws within the County. Deputy sheriffs serve the public through crime prevention and intervention, including arrests and supervision of detainees. Sheriff's deputies are sworn law enforcement officers who work for the elected Sheriff of the county. They work closely with other law enforcement agencies, social services, juvenile officers, court personnel, and other area agencies to protect the public from criminal activity.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age and a U.S. Citizen.
• High school diploma or a minimum of 60 college credits from an accredited school.
• Of good moral character.
• No felony convictions unless pardoned by Governor. No domestic abuse convictions.
• Must hold a valid Wisconsin driver's license with a good driving record.
• Must satisfactorily complete all required training during the time period established by the Office.
• Eligible for certification by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board; current certification and prior experience as a law enforcement officer are preferred. preferred.
• Legal ability to possess a firearm.
• Good verbal and written communication skills and clear and concise speech.
• React quickly and effectively to stressful situations.
• Ability to handle several tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to use all standard law enforcement equipment.
• Vision correctable to 20/20.
• Successful candidates will be required to successfully complete all of the following: written examination, oral interview, and background criminal investigation.

Reciprocity Program (Military Police & Out of State Law Enforcement)

Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements are permitted to complete the Law Enforcement Reciprocity Examination in lieu of Wisconsin's preparatory law enforcement officer training academy. The Law Enforcement

The reciprocity Examination consists of approximately 200 multiple-choice questions derived from the topics covered in Wisconsin's preparatory law enforcement officer training academy.

Lateral Hiring Program

The Sheriff's Office has a lateral hiring program in the development stage. Check back soon to learn more.

Additional Information

This position may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Applicants must either have a test on file with the Badger State Sheriff's Association testing site located at Empco Website or test with Portage County using the Wisconsin Personnel Partners test.

Apply for the position of deputy sheriff by clicking on the JOBS tab on the left. If the position does not appear, we are not accepting applications at this time.

Corrections Officer

Position Description

Maintain safety, and security, and conduct general detention facility operations in the county jail and juvenile detention facility. Transport prisoners to and from correctional facilities, courts, and medical/dental facilities. Supervise inmates during internal operations within the Jail and Juvenile Detention Facility.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Associate Degree in Criminal Justice preferred.
• Completion of basic jailer school or grandfathered by the Wisconsin Training and Standards Board is preferred.
• Prior corrections experience preferred.

Reciprocity Program (Wisconsin DOC or Out-of-state Corrections Experience)

The Law Enforcement Standards Board considers waivers of preparatory training for jail applicants who have held employment as a Correctional Officer with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC), or as a Jail Officer in another state.

Additional Information

This position may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Apply for the position of corrections officer by clicking on the JOBS tab on the left. If the position does not appear, we are not accepting applications at this time.

Communications Technician

Position Description

The major responsibility of the civilian communication technician for the Sheriff's Office is the receiving of emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance; transmitting information and dispatching law enforcement, fire and/or medical personnel, and appropriate equipment through the use of telephone and radio communications equipment. Monitor all communication monitors. Monitor and operate all equipment and alarms located in the Communication Center.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Must be 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen.

No felony convictions unless pardoned by the Governor.

One or more of the following is preferred

• Six months or more experience in emergency dispatch or related law enforcement is preferred.
• One year of work or four years of volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue experience is preferred.
• Six months or more experience in a customer service-related field.
• Six months or more experience in a call center environment.
• Public safety communications dispatch diploma or certificate from an accredited technical school is preferred.
• One year of military communications experience that primarily involved direct voice broadcasting to send and receive messages associated with military police and emergency equipment preferred.
• Information technology experience preferred.

Additional Information

This position may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Apply for the position of communications technician by clicking on the JOBS tab on the left. If the position does not appear, we are not accepting applications at this time.