Police Officer Recruitment Process

Candidates meeting minimum requirements will be asked to complete an online test and will be invited to the PD Staff interviews. 

Candidates that score 140 points between the written test and Oral Interview will be placed on an Eligibility List (each % score = one point)  Example:  60% on written and 90% on interview = 150 points.

Any hired candidate who will be attending the Academy will need to pass the Physical Readiness test, see this video for details - https://vimeo.com/195826724

Starting Wage for Police Officer 

POSITION

 YEARS OF SERVICE

HOURLY

OVERTIME

BI-WEEKLY

ANNUAL

POLICE OFFICER 

Start

$38.40

$57.6000

$2,880.00

$74,880.00

 

18 months

$40.72

$61.0800

$3,054.00

$79,404.00


*Sun Prairie has a lateral entry program where experienced officers may be eligible for higher starting pay and accelerated vacation. See details below.

Lateral Entry Program

A newly hired employee who is currently employed as a full-time police officer in Wisconsin (or another State and has passed DOJ’s reciprocity exam) and having completed a probationary period in this capacity is eligible for advanced placement on the vacation and wage scales, up to 10 years.


POSITION

 YEARS OF SERVICE

HOURLY

OVERTIME

BI-WEEKLY

ANNUAL

POLICE OFFICER 

18 months

$40.72​

$61.0800

$3,054.00

$​79,404.00


3 years
$42.62
$63.9300
$3,196.50
$83,109.00

4 years

$45.18

$67.7700

$3,388.50

$88,101.00


7 years

$46.19

$69.2850

$3,464.25

$90,070.50


10 years
$47.09
$70.6350
$3,531.75$91,825.50


VACATION SCHEDULE 

Start

10 days of vacation

After two years

14 days of vacation

After five years

19 days of vacation

After ten years

23 days of vacation

After fifteen years 

28 days of vacation

Applicants must watch:

  • Applicant Orientation - Introduction: Video Link

  • Applicant Orientation Field - Training Overview: Video Link

  • Applicant Orientation - Organization Overview:  Video Link

  • Police Officer Selection Test Process - Video Link

2026 POLICE OFFICER HIRING PROCESS (ENTRY-LEVEL)

PHASE

WHEN

Announcement of open process

9/3

Future Officer Sessions (if interested, please e-mail SNPDrecruitment@cityofsunprairie.com)

9/6 & 9/16, 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Application Deadline(s)

9/18 @  11:59 PM

Online exam deadline

9/21 @ noon

Physical Readiness Testing

9/27

15-minute zoom interview via zoom 

9/21, 9/22, and 9/24


Chief Panel Interviews 

TBD


 Background Investigations Report

By 11/16

Police & Fire Commission meeting (Conditional offer approval)

11/18

Medical & Psychological examinations

11/30 - 12/04

Anticipated start date

12/14/2026

Law Enforcement Academy Start Date 

1/11/2027

Police Officers posing with kids