Law enforcement standards board
Wis. Stat. § 165.85
in effect(1) Findings and policy. The legislature finds that the administration of criminal justice is of statewide concern, and that law enforcement work is of vital importance to the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state and is of such a nature as to require training, education, and the establishment of standards of a proper professional character. The public interest requires that these standards be established and that this training and education be made available to persons who seek to become law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail or juvenile detention officers, persons who are serving as these officers in a temporary or probationary capacity, and persons already in regular service.
(2) Definitions. In this section and in s. 165.86:
(ac) “Alzheimer’s disease” has the meaning given in s. 46.87 (1) (a).
(ah) “Board” means the law enforcement standards board.
(ap) “Employment file” means all files relating to a person’s employment, including performance reviews, files related to job performance, internal affairs investigative files, administrative files, previous personnel applications, personnel-related claims, disciplinary actions, and all substantiated complaints and commendations, but does not include pay or benefit information, similar administrative data or information that does not relate to performance or conduct, or medical files unless the medical file relates to mental competency issues bearing on the person’s suitability for a law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officer position.
(bc) “Fiscal year” has the meaning given in s. 20.902.
(be) “Government agency” means any department, agency, or court of this state, or of a city, village, town, or county in this state.
(bg) “Jail” means a county jail, rehabilitation facility established by s. 59.53 (8) or county house of correction under s. 303.16.
(bn) “Jail officer” means any person employed by any political subdivision of the state for the purpose of supervising, controlling or maintaining a jail or the persons confined in a jail. “Jail officer” includes officers regardless of whether they have been sworn regarding their duties or whether they serve on a full-time basis.
(br) “Juvenile detention facility” has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (10r).
(bt) “Juvenile detention officer” means any person employed by any political subdivision of the state or by any private entity contracting under s. 938.222 to supervise, control, or maintain a juvenile detention facility or the persons confined in a juvenile detention facility. “Juvenile detention officer” includes officers regardless of whether they have been sworn regarding their duties or whether they serve on a full-time basis.
(bv) “Law enforcement agency” means a governmental unit of this state or a political subdivision of this state that employs one or more law enforcement officers, and includes the Marquette University police department.
(bx) “Law enforcement instructor” means a person who is certified by the board to deliver board-approved program outcomes, course competencies, performance standards, and learning objectives in training programs and training schools for law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement officers, jail officers, and juvenile detention officers.
(c) “Law enforcement officer” means any person employed by the state or any political subdivision of the state, for the purpose of detecting and preventing crime and enforcing laws or ordinances and who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws or ordinances that the person is employed and sworn to enforce. “Law enforcement officer” includes a university police officer, as defined in s. 175.42 (1) (b).
(cm) “Police pursuit” has the meaning given in s. 85.07 (8) (a).
(d) “Political subdivision” means counties, cities, villages, towns, town sanitary districts, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts, and technical college districts.
(e) “Preservice student” means any person who meets the minimum recruitment qualifications set by the board and who enrolls in preparatory training under sub. (4) (a) 1., (b) 1., or (c) 1. prior to employment as a law enforcement officer, tribal law enforcement officer, jail officer, or juvenile detention officer.
(f) “Recruit” means a law enforcement officer, tribal law enforcement officer, jail officer, or juvenile detention officer employed on a probationary or temporary basis, in compliance with the minimum recruitment qualifications set by the board.
(fh) “Tactical emergency medical services professional” means a licensed emergency medical services professional who has been endorsed by the department of health services as a person who provides medical services when operating as part of a law enforcement tactical team and operating with the prior written approval of the sheriff or chief of police for the jurisdiction in which the licensed emergency medical services professional is authorized to carry out his or her duties.
(fm) “Tribal law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (e).
(g) “Tribal law enforcement officer” means any of the following:
1. A person who is employed by a tribe for the purpose of detecting and preventing crime and enforcing the tribe’s laws or ordinances, who is authorized by the tribe to make arrests of Indian persons for violations of the tribe’s laws or ordinances, and who agrees to accept the duties of law enforcement officers under the laws of this state.
2. A conservation warden employed by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission who agrees to accept the duties of law enforcement officers under the laws of this state.
(3) Powers. The board may:
(a) Promulgate rules for the administration of this section including the authority to require the submission of reports and information pertaining to the administration of this section by law enforcement agencies, tribal law enforcement agencies, jails, juvenile detention facilities, and schools approved by the board and operated by or for this state or any political subdivision of the state for the specific purpose of training law enforcement recruits, law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement recruits, tribal law enforcement officers, tactical emergency medical services professionals, jail officer recruits, jail officers, juvenile detention officer recruits, or juvenile detention officers in this state.
(am) Establish minimum qualification standards for admission to preparatory law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officer training for preservice students and recruits, but not for department of corrections correctional officers. The standards shall relate to the competence and reliability of persons to assume and discharge the responsibilities of law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officers. The board shall prescribe the means for presenting evidence of fulfillment of these requirements.
(b) Establish minimum educational, training, and recruitment standards for admission to employment as a law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officer in permanent positions and in temporary, probationary or part-time status. The standards shall relate to the competence and reliability of persons to assume and discharge the responsibilities of law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officers. Educational and training standards for tribal law enforcement officers under this paragraph shall be identical to standards for other law enforcement officers. The board shall prescribe the means for presenting evidence of fulfillment of these requirements.
(c) Except as provided under sub. (3m) (a), certify persons as being qualified under this section to be law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement officers, tactical emergency medical services professionals, jail officers, or juvenile detention officers. Prior to being certified under this paragraph, a tribal law enforcement officer shall agree to accept the duties of law enforcement officers under the laws of this state.
(cm) Decertify law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement officers, tactical emergency medical services professionals, jail officers, or juvenile detention officers who do any of the following:
1. Resign employment in lieu of termination or are terminated for just cause under any applicable provision of law, unless the board determines under sub. (3m) (c) that decertification on this ground is not necessary.
2. Violate or fail to comply with a rule, policy, or order of the board relating to curriculum, training, or recruitment.
3. Falsify information to obtain or maintain certified status.
4. Are certified as the result of an administrative error.
5. Are convicted of a felony or of any offense that, if committed in Wisconsin, could be punished as a felony. A law enforcement officer or tactical emergency medical services professional so convicted shall notify the board within 30 days of his or her conviction.
6. Are convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, as defined in 18 USC 921 (a) (33), or are convicted of domestic abuse, as defined in s. 968.075 (1) (a), or the conviction is subject to the imposition of the domestic abuse surcharge under s. 973.055 (1), regardless of whether any part of the surcharge is waived by the court under s. 973.055 (4). A law enforcement officer or tactical emergency medical services professional so convicted shall notify the board within 30 days of his or her conviction.
7. For any crime listed in subd. 5. or 6., enter into any of the following if the board determines that certification is not in the best interest of the public:
a. A deferred judgment and sentencing agreement or deferred sentencing agreement, whether pending or successfully completed.
b. A deferred prosecution agreement, whether pending or successfully completed.
c. A pretrial diversion agreement, whether pending or successfully completed.
8. Fail to pay court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses, or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, or who fail to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings.
(d) Establish minimum curriculum requirements for preparatory courses and programs, and recommend minimum curriculum requirements for recertification and advanced courses and programs, in schools approved by the board and operated by or for this state or any political subdivision of the state for the specific purpose of training law enforcement recruits, law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement recruits, tribal law enforcement officers, jail officer recruits, jail officers, juvenile detention officer recruits, or juvenile detention officers in areas of knowledge and ability necessary to the attainment of effective performance as an officer, and ranging from subjects such as first aid, patrolling, statutory authority, techniques of arrest, protocols for official action by off-duty officers, firearms, domestic violence investigations, and recording custodial interrogations to subjects designed to provide a better understanding of ever-increasing complex problems in law enforcement such as human relations, civil rights, constitutional law, and supervision, control, and maintenance of a jail or juvenile detention facility. The board shall appoint a curriculum advisory committee to advise the board in the establishment of the curriculum requirements. The curriculum advisory committee shall consist of 6 chiefs of police and 6 sheriffs to be appointed on a geographic basis, the director of training of the Wisconsin state patrol, and, if applicable, one or more representatives of colleges or universities as follows:
1. If any technical college in the state provides a course or program described in this paragraph, the board shall appoint to the curriculum advisory committee one person to represent technical colleges.
2. If any 2-year college in the state provides a course or program described in this paragraph, the board shall appoint to the curriculum advisory committee one person to represent 2-year colleges.
3. If any 4-year college or university in the state provides a course or program described in this paragraph, the board shall appoint to the curriculum advisory committee one person to represent 4-year colleges and universities.
(e) Consult and cooperate with counties, municipalities, agencies of this state, other governmental agencies and with universities, colleges, the technical college system board and other institutions concerning the development of law enforcement training schools, degree programs or specialized courses of instruction.
(g) Conduct and stimulate research which is designed to improve law enforcement administration and performance.
(h) Make recommendations concerning any matter within its purview.
(i) Make such evaluations as are necessary to determine if participating governmental units are complying with this section.
(j) Adopt rules under ch. 227 for its internal management, control and administration.
(3m) Duties relating to support enforcement. The board shall do all of the following:
(a) As provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into with the department of children and families under s. 49.857, refuse certification to an individual who applies for certification under this section, refuse recertification to an individual certified under this section or decertify an individual certified under this section if the individual fails to pay court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse or if the individual fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings.
(b)
1. Request that an individual provide the board with his or her social security number when he or she applies for certification or recertification under this section. Except as provided in subd. 2., if an individual who is requested by the board to provide his or her social security number under this paragraph does not comply with the board’s request, the board shall deny the individual’s application for certification or recertification. The board may disclose a social security number provided by an individual under this paragraph only to the department of children and families as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into with the department of children and families under s. 49.857.
2. As a condition of applying for certification or recertification, an individual who does not have a social security number shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the board that he or she does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A certification or recertification issued in reliance on a false statement submitted under this subdivision is invalid.
(c) Establish procedures for decertification under sub. (3) (cm) in compliance with ch. 227, except that decertification for an action described under sub. (3) (cm) 8. shall be done as provided under par. (a). The procedures shall include a process for reviewing a resignation in lieu of termination or a termination for just cause.
(d) Develop a list of recommended training courses for law enforcement officers relating to preventing, recognizing, and investigating human trafficking, apprehending and prosecuting human traffickers, and coordinating human trafficking response efforts with other law enforcement agencies and organizations.
(4) Required standards.
(a) Law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers.
1. The board shall establish a preparatory program of law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officer training, which shall include not less than 600 hours of training. The board shall establish criteria for the general program outcomes for the preparatory program. Specifics of the training curriculum, competencies, student learning and performance objectives, particular subjects, and the minimum number of hours for each subject shall be established by written policy of the board. In establishing the preparatory training program, the board shall give due consideration to recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee. The board may amend the criteria and policies governing the preparatory training program as needed to respond to technological changes affecting law enforcement, additional recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee, or other conditions affecting the public interest in maintaining training standards of a proper professional character. Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1), the criteria and policies established under this paragraph need not be promulgated as rules under ch. 227.
2. Except as provided in subd. 3. or 8., no person may be employed as a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily completed the preparatory training program established under subd. 1. and has been certified by the board as being qualified to be a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer.
3. A recruit may exercise law enforcement powers during an original period of temporary or probationary employment that, except as provided in subd. 6. or as otherwise authorized by law, may not exceed 12 months from the recruit’s first date of employment.
3h. A person may be certified by the board under subd. 2. only if the person has successfully completed the preparatory program established under subd. 1. within the person’s original period of temporary or probationary employment established in subd. 3.
3m. Except as provided in sub. (3m) (a), and in addition to certification procedures under this paragraph, the board may certify any person as being a tribal law enforcement officer on the basis of the person’s completion of the training requirements for law enforcement officer certification prior to May 6, 1994. The officer must also meet the agreement requirements under sub. (3) (c) prior to certification as a tribal law enforcement officer.
4. Preservice students taking part in the preparatory program of law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer training established by the board under subd. 1. shall be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the student’s fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by the department of justice. The fingerprints shall be submitted to the department of justice for verification of the identify of the person fingerprinted and to obtain records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions in Wisconsin. The department of justice shall provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards or fingerprints by other technologies to the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of verifying the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions on file with the federal bureau of investigation.
5. No person who has been convicted of any federal felony, any crime of domestic violence, or of any offense that, if committed in Wisconsin, could be punished as a felony may take part in the preparatory training program established under subd. 1. unless he or she has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon for the crime.
6. Upon a showing of good cause by a recruit or a recruit’s employer, the board may extend the recruit’s original period of temporary or probationary employment for a period of time it deems appropriate.
7.
a. Except as provided in subd. 8., no person may continue as a certified law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer unless that person maintains law enforcement or tribal law enforcement employment and completes annual recertification training. Any officer who is subject to this subdivision shall complete at least 24 hours of recertification training each fiscal year beginning in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which he or she is certified as a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer by the board.
b. Each officer who is subject to this subdivision shall biennially complete at least 4 hours of training from curricula based upon model standards promulgated by the board under par. (d). Hours of training completed under this subd. 7. b. shall count toward the hours of training required under subd. 7. a.
c. Each officer who is subject to this subdivision shall annually complete a handgun qualification course from curricula based upon model standards established by the board under par. (e). Hours of training completed under this subd. 7. c. shall count toward the hours of training required under subd. 7. a.
8. Sheriffs are not required to satisfy the requirements under subd. 2., 3., or 7. as a condition of tenure or continued employment.
(am) Tactical emergency medical services professionals.
1. The board shall establish minimum training standards for tactical emergency medical services professionals. In establishing the minimum training standards, the board shall consider recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee. The board may amend the standards as needed to respond to technological changes affecting law enforcement or tactical emergency medical services, additional recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee, or other conditions affecting the public interest in maintaining training standards of a proper professional character. Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1), the standards established under this subdivision need not be promulgated as rules under ch. 227.
2. No person may be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily met the standards established under subd. 1. and has been certified by the board as being qualified to be a tactical emergency medical services professional. No person may be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional without the prior written approval of the sheriff or chief of police for the jurisdiction in which the tactical emergency medical services professional is authorized to carry out his or her duties. The sheriff or chief of police must have authority and responsibility over the team on which he or she is approving the tactical emergency medical services professional to go armed with a firearm.
3. A person who has met the minimum training standards established under subd. 1., and who seeks certification as a tactical emergency medical services professional, shall be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person’s fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by the department of justice. The fingerprints shall be submitted to the department of justice for verification of the identify of the person fingerprinted and to obtain records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions in Wisconsin. The department of justice shall provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards or fingerprints by other technologies to the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of verifying the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions on file with the federal bureau of investigation.
4. No person who has been convicted of any federal felony, any crime of domestic violence, or of any offense that, if committed in Wisconsin, could be punished as a felony qualifies for certification as a tactical emergency medical services professional unless he or she has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon for the crime.
5.
a. No person may continue to be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional unless that person maintains employment as a tactical emergency medical services professional, maintains the approval of the sheriff or chief of police for the jurisdiction in which the tactical emergency medical services professional is authorized to carry out his or her duties, and meets annual recertification training standards.
b. Each tactical emergency medical services professional who is subject to this subdivision shall annually complete a handgun qualification course from curricula based upon model standards established by the board under par. (e). Hours of training completed under this subd. 5. b. shall count toward the hours of training required for certification.
(b) Jail officers.
1. The board shall establish a preparatory program of jail officer training, which shall include not less than 160 hours of training. The board shall establish criteria for the general program outcomes for the preparatory program. Specifics of the training curriculum competencies, student learning and performance objectives, particular subjects, and the minimum number of hours for each subject shall be established by written policy of the board. In establishing the preparatory training program, the board shall give due consideration to recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee. The board may amend the criteria and policies governing the preparatory training program as needed to respond to technological changes affecting jail administration, additional recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee, or other conditions affecting the public interest in maintaining training standards of a proper professional character. The board may provide that any part of the training program under this subdivision and the training program under par. (c) 1. are identical and count toward either training requirement under this paragraph or par. (c). Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1), the criteria and policies established under this paragraph need not be promulgated as rules under ch. 227.
2. Except as provided in subd. 7., no person may be employed as a jail officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily completed the preparatory training program established under subd. 1. and has been certified by the board as being qualified to be a jail officer.
3. A recruit may exercise jail officer powers only during an original period of temporary or probationary employment that, except as provided in subd. 5. or as otherwise authorized by law, may not exceed 12 months from the recruit’s first date of employment.
4. A person may be certified by the board under subd. 2. only if the person has successfully completed the preparatory program established under subd. 1. within the person’s original period of temporary or probationary employment established in subd. 3.
4g. Preservice students taking part in the preparatory program of jail officer training established by the board under subd. 1. shall be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the student’s fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by the department of justice. The fingerprints shall be submitted to the department of justice for verification of the identity of the person fingerprinted and to obtain records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions in Wisconsin. The department of justice shall provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards or fingerprints by other technologies to the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of verifying the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions on file with the federal bureau of investigation.
4r. No person who has been convicted of any federal felony or of any offense that, if committed in Wisconsin, could be punished as a felony may take part in the preparatory training program established under subd. 1. unless he or she has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon for the crime.
5. Upon a showing of good cause by a recruit or a recruit’s employer, the board may extend the recruit’s original period of temporary or probationary employment for a period of time it deems appropriate.
6. No person may continue as a certified jail officer, unless that person maintains employment with a jail and completes annual recertification training. The officer shall complete at least 24 hours of recertification training each fiscal year beginning in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which he or she is certified as a jail officer by the board.
7. Subdivision 2. does not apply to a jail officer serving under permanent appointment prior to July 2, 1983. The failure of any such officer to fulfill those requirements does not make that officer ineligible for any promotional examination for which he or she is otherwise eligible. Any such officer may voluntarily participate in programs to fulfill those requirements.
(c) Juvenile detention officers.
1. The board shall establish a preparatory program of juvenile detention officer training, which shall include not less than 160 hours of training. The board shall establish criteria for the general program outcomes for the preparatory program. Specifics of the training curriculum, competencies, student learning and performance objectives, particular subjects, and the minimum number of hours for each subject shall be established by written policy of the board. In establishing the preparatory training program, the board shall give due consideration to recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee. The board may amend the criteria and policies governing the preparatory training program as needed to respond to technological changes affecting juvenile detention administration, additional recommendations made by the curriculum advisory committee, or other conditions affecting the public interest in maintaining training standards of a proper professional character. The board may provide that any part of the training program under this subdivision and the training program under par. (b) 1. are identical and count toward either training requirement under this paragraph or par. (b). Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1), the criteria and policies established under this paragraph need not be promulgated as rules under ch. 227.
2. No person may be employed as a juvenile detention officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily completed the program established under subd. 1. and has been certified by the board as being qualified to be a juvenile detention officer.
3. A recruit may exercise juvenile detention officer powers only during an original period of temporary or probationary employment that, except as provided in subd. 5. or as otherwise authorized by law, may not exceed 12 months from the recruit’s first date of employment.
4. A person may be certified by the board under subd. 2. only if the person has successfully completed the preparatory program established under subd. 1. within the person’s original period of temporary or probationary employment established in subd. 3.
4g. Preservice students taking part in the preparatory program of juvenile detention officer training established by the board under subd. 1. shall be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the student’s fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by the department of justice. The fingerprints shall be submitted to the department of justice for verification of the identity of the person fingerprinted and to obtain records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions in Wisconsin. The department of justice shall provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards or fingerprints by other technologies to the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of verifying the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions on file with the federal bureau of investigation.
4r. No person who has been convicted of any federal felony or of any offense that, if committed in Wisconsin, could be punished as a felony may take part in the preparatory training program established under subd. 1. unless he or she has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon for the crime.
5. Upon a showing of good cause by a recruit or a recruit’s employer, the board may extend the recruit’s original period of temporary or probationary employment for a period of time it deems appropriate.
6. No person may continue as a certified juvenile detention officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless that person maintains employment with a juvenile detention facility and completes annual recertification training. The officer shall complete at least 24 hours of recertification training each fiscal year beginning in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which he or she is certified as a juvenile detention officer by the board.
7. Any person employed and certified as a jail officer on July 1, 1994, is certified as a juvenile detention officer and remains certified as a juvenile detention officer subject to annual recertification requirements under subd. 6. and the board’s decertification authority under sub. (3) (cm).
(d) Police pursuit. The board shall promulgate rules that do all of the following:
1. Establish model standards that could be used by any law enforcement agency to determine whether to initiate or continue police pursuit, to establish police pursuit driving techniques employed by that agency, and to inform its officers of its written guidelines provided under s. 346.03 (6). The board shall review and, if considered appropriate by the board, revise the model standards established under this subdivision not later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year thereafter. The rules promulgated under this subdivision are advisory only, are not required to be included as a law enforcement training standard under this subsection, and are inadmissible as evidence, except to show compliance with this subdivision.
2. Establish the preparatory program and biennial recertification training curricula required under par. (a) relating to police pursuit standards, guidelines, and driving techniques.
(e) Firearms. The board shall establish criteria for firearm training. Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1), the criteria need not be promulgated as rules under ch. 227 and shall do all of the following:
1. Establish model standards that could be used by any law enforcement agency to show handgun proficiency.
2. Establish the preparatory program and annual recertification training curricula required under par. (a) relating to an officer’s ability to operate and fire a handgun.
(em) Officer recruitment.
1. When a law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, or juvenile detention facility recruits for new officers, the interviewing agency shall require each candidate that it interviews for a law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention position, who is or has been employed by another law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency to execute a written waiver that explicitly authorizes each law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or other government agency to disclose the candidate’s employment files to the interviewing agency, and releases the interviewing agency and each law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency that employs or has employed the candidate from any liability related to the use and disclosure of the candidate’s employment files.
2. A law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency may disclose a candidate’s employment files by either providing copies to the interviewing agency or allowing the interviewing agency to review the files at the offices of the law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency that employed the candidate.
3. A candidate who refuses to execute the waiver may not be considered for employment by the interviewing agency or considered for certification by the board.
4. The interviewing agency shall, at least 30 days prior to making its hiring decision, submit the waiver to each law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency that has employed the candidate. A law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency that receives a waiver shall make the requested employment files available to the interviewing agency not more than 21 days after receiving the waiver.
5. The interviewing agency may also conduct an official oral interview of individuals from the law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency that employed the candidate.
6. A law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency is not required to provide the candidate’s employment files if the agency or facility is prohibited from providing the employment files pursuant to a binding nondisclosure agreement to which the law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency is a party if the agreement was executed before November 7, 2021.
7. No law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency may enter into a nondisclosure agreement preventing an interviewing law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, or juvenile detention facility from viewing employment files after November 7, 2021.
8. A law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, jail, juvenile detention facility, or government agency is not liable for complying with the provisions of this paragraph or participating in an official oral interview with an investigator from the interviewing agency regarding the candidate.
(f) Local or agency standards. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude any law enforcement or tribal law enforcement agency or sheriff from setting recruit training, employment, and recertification training standards that are higher than the minimum standards set by the board.
(5) Schools and programs; training reimbursements.
(a) All training programs and training schools for law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, and juvenile detention officers and law enforcement instructors must be authorized and approved by the board as meeting standards established by the board. The board may authorize and approve a training program or training school only if it is operated by an agency of the state or of a political subdivision of the state. The authority granted in this paragraph does not authorize the board to select a site for a state police, jail, or juvenile detention officer academy or to expend funds thereon.
(b) The board shall authorize payment to law enforcement agencies of approved expenses incurred by recruits who satisfactorily complete training at schools certified by the board. Payment of these expenses for law enforcement officer, jail officer and juvenile detention officer preparatory training shall be for board approved tuition, living, and travel expenses. Payment of approved expenses for completion of annual recertification training under sub. (4) shall be provided to the law enforcement agency that employs the officer and shall include at least $320 per officer per year. Funds may also be distributed for attendance at other training programs and courses or for training services on a priority basis to be decided by the department of justice.
(c) The board may provide grants as a reimbursement for actual expenses incurred by state agencies or political subdivisions for providing training programs to officers from other jurisdictions within the state.
(d) Any state agency which receives reimbursement for salary and fringe benefit costs under this subsection shall treat the reimbursement as revenue and deposit any such reimbursement in the appropriate program revenue account or segregated fund. If there is no such appropriate account or fund, the reimbursement shall be deposited as general purpose revenue — earned.
(5x) Officer training reimbursement. Notwithstanding sub. (5), in each fiscal year, the department of justice shall determine the amount of additional costs, including but not limited to tuition, lodging, travel, meals, salaries and fringe benefits, to each political subdivision as a result of the enactment of 1993 Wisconsin Act 460. In each fiscal year, the department shall pay each political subdivision the amount determined under this subsection for that political subdivision from the appropriations under s. 20.455 (2) (am) and (q), subject to the limitations under s. 20.455 (2) (am).
(5y) Law enforcement training fund. The moneys credited to the appropriation accounts under s. 20.455 (2) (ja) and (q) constitute the law enforcement training fund.
(6) Finances. The board may accept for any of its purposes and functions under this section any and all donations, both real and personal, and grants of money from any governmental unit or public agency, or from any institution or person, and may receive and utilize the same. Any arrangements pursuant to this subsection shall be detailed in any report of the board submitted under s. 15.07 (6), which shall include the identity of the donor, the nature of the transaction, and the conditions, if any.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/165.85Fetched: 10/7/2026