165.85
165.85
Law enforcement standards board. 165.85(1)
(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 secure detention officers, persons who are serving as these officers in a temporary or probationary capacity and persons already in regular service.
165.85(2)(ah)
(ah) "Board" means the law enforcement standards board.
165.85(2)(bg)
(bg) "Jail" means a county jail, rehabilitation facility established by
s. 59.53 (8) or county house of correction under
s. 303.16.
165.85(2)(bn)
(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.
165.85(2)(c)
(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 to enforce.
165.85(2)(d)
(d) "Political subdivision" means counties, cities, villages, towns, town sanitary districts and public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts.
165.85(2)(f)
(f) "Secure 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 secure detention facility or the persons confined in a secure detention facility. "Secure detention officer" includes officers regardless of whether they have been sworn regarding their duties or whether they serve on a full-time basis.
165.85(2)(g)
(g) "Tribal law enforcement officer" means 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.
165.85(3)(a)
(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 and tribal law enforcement agencies in this state.
165.85(3)(b)
(b) Establish minimum educational and training standards for admission to employment as a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer in permanent positions and in temporary, probationary or part-time status. Educational and training standards for tribal law enforcement officers under this paragraph shall be identical to standards for other law enforcement officers.
165.85(3)(c)
(c) Except as provided under
sub. (3m) (a), certify persons as being qualified under this section to be law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail or secure 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.
165.85(3)(cm)
(cm) Decertify law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail or secure detention officers who terminate employment or are terminated, who violate or fail to comply with a rule or order of the board relating to curriculum or training, who 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 workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings. The board shall establish procedures for decertification in compliance with
ch. 227, except that decertification for failure 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 for failure to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings shall be done as provided under
sub. (3m) (a).
165.85(3)(d)
(d) Establish minimum curriculum requirements for preparatory courses and programs, and recommend minimum curriculum requirements for recertification and advanced courses and programs, in schools 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, secure detention officer recruits or secure detention officers in areas of knowledge and ability necessary to the attainment of effective performance as an officer, and ranging from traditional subjects such as first aid, patrolling, statutory authority, techniques of arrest and firearms 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 secure detention facility. The board shall appoint a 13-member advisory curriculum committee consisting of 6 chiefs of police and 6 sheriffs to be appointed on a geographic basis of not more than one chief of police and one sheriff from any one of the 8 state administrative districts together with the director of training of the Wisconsin state patrol. This committee shall advise the board in the establishment of the curriculum requirements.
165.85(3)(e)
(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.
165.85(3)(g)
(g) Conduct and stimulate research which is designed to improve law enforcement administration and performance.
165.85(3)(h)
(h) Make recommendations concerning any matter within its purview.
165.85(3)(i)
(i) Make such evaluations as are necessary to determine if participating governmental units are complying with this section.
165.85(3)(j)
(j) Adopt rules under
ch. 227 for its internal management, control and administration.
165.85(3m)
(3m) Duties relating to support enforcement. The board shall do all of the following:
165.85(3m)(a)
(a) As provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into with the department of workforce development 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 workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings.
165.85(3m)(b)1.1. 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 workforce development as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into with the department of workforce development under
s. 49.857.
165.85(3m)(b)2.
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 workforce development. A certification or recertification issued in reliance on a false statement submitted under this subdivision is invalid.
165.85(4)(a)(a) The following law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers are not required to meet any requirement of
pars. (b) 1. and
(c) as a condition of tenure or continued employment. The failure of any such law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer to fulfill those requirements does not make that officer ineligible for any promotional examination for which he or she is otherwise eligible. Those law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers may voluntarily participate in this program.
165.85(4)(a)1.
1. Law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers serving under permanent appointment prior to January 1, 1974.
165.85(4)(a)2.
2. Law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers who are elected by popular vote.
165.85(4)(an)
(an) Except as provided in
pars. (ap) and
(ar), jail officers are required to meet the requirements of
pars. (b) 2.,
(bn) 2. and
(c) as a condition of tenure or continued employment regardless of the date of their appointment.
165.85(4)(ap)
(ap) Jail officers serving under permanent appointment prior to July 2, 1983, are not required to meet any requirement of
pars. (b) and
(c) as a condition of tenure or continued employment as either a jail officer or a secure detention officer. 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.
165.85(4)(ar)1.1. A jail officer permanently appointed after July 1, 1983, and prior to July 1, 1988, including an officer who after July 1, 1983, and prior to July 1, 1988, completed a program of at least 80 hours of training that met the requirements of s.
165.85 (4) (b) 2., 1985 stats., shall meet the requirements under
par. (b) 2. by June 30, 1993.
165.85(4)(ar)2.
2. A jail officer who has completed at least 80 hours of preparatory training which met the requirements of s.
165.85 (4) (b) 2., 1985 stats., may meet the requirements of
subd. 1. by completing a program of training approved by the board. The program shall devote at least 16 hours to methods of supervision of special needs inmates, including inmates who may be emotionally distressed, mentally ill, suicidal, developmentally disabled or alcohol or drug abusers.
165.85(4)(at)
(at) Any person certified as a jail officer on July 1, 1994, is certified as a secure detention officer and remains certified as a secure detention officer subject to annual recertification requirements under
par. (bn) 3. and the board's decertification authority under
sub. (3) (cm).
165.85(4)(b)1.1. No person may be appointed as a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory program of law enforcement training approved by the board and has been certified by the board as being qualified to be a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer. The program shall include 400 hours of training, except the program for law enforcement officers who serve as rangers for the department of natural resources includes 240 hours of training. The board shall promulgate a rule under
ch. 227 providing a specific curriculum for a 400-hour conventional program and a 240-hour ranger program. The period of temporary or probationary employment established at the time of initial employment shall not be extended by more than one year for an officer lacking the training qualifications required by the board. The total period during which a person may serve as a law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officer on a temporary or probationary basis without completing a preparatory program of law enforcement training approved by the board shall not exceed 2 years, except that the board shall permit part-time law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers to serve on a temporary or probationary basis without completing a program of law enforcement training approved by the board to a period not exceeding 3 years. For purposes of this section, a part-time law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer is a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer who routinely works not more than one-half the normal annual work hours of a full-time employee of the employing agency or unit of government. Law enforcement training programs including municipal, county and state programs meeting standards of the board are acceptable as meeting these training requirements.
165.85(4)(b)1d.
1d. Any training program developed under
subd. 1. shall include all of the following:
165.85(4)(b)1d.a.
a. An adequate amount of training to enable the person being trained to deal effectively with domestic abuse incidents, including training that addresses the emotional and psychological effect that domestic abuse has on victims.
165.85(4)(b)1d.b.
b. Training on emergency detention standards and procedures under
s. 51.15, emergency protective placement standards and procedures under
s. 55.06 (11), and information on mental health and developmental disabilities agencies and other resources that may be available to assist the officer in interpreting the emergency detention and emergency protective placement standards, making emergency detentions and emergency protective placements, and locating appropriate facilities for the emergency detentions and emergency protective placements of persons.
165.85(4)(b)1d.c.
c. At least one hour of instruction on recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or other related dementias and interacting with and assisting persons who have Alzheimer's disease or other related dementias.
165.85(4)(b)2.
2. No person may be appointed as a jail officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory program of jail officer training approved by the board and has been certified by the board as being qualified to be a jail officer. The program shall include at least 120 hours of training. The training program shall devote at least 16 hours to methods of supervision of special needs inmates, including inmates who may be emotionally distressed, mentally ill, suicidal, developmentally disabled or alcohol or drug abusers. The period of temporary or probationary employment established at the time of initial employment shall not be extended by more than one year for an officer lacking the training qualifications required by the board. Jail officer training programs including municipal, county and state programs meeting standards of the board shall be acceptable as meeting these training requirements.
165.85(4)(b)3.
3. No person may be appointed as a secure detention officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory program of secure detention officer training approved by the board and has been certified by the board as being qualified to be a secure detention officer. The program shall include at least 120 hours of training. The training program shall devote at least 16 hours to methods of supervision of special needs inmates, including inmates who may be emotionally distressed, mentally ill, suicidal, developmentally disabled or alcohol or drug abusers. The period of temporary or probationary employment established at the time of initial employment shall not be extended by more than one year for an officer lacking the training qualifications required by the board. Secure detention officer training programs including municipal, county and state programs meeting standards of the board shall be acceptable as meeting these training requirements.
165.85(4)(bn)1.1. No person other than an officer elected by popular vote may continue as a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless that person completes annual recertification training. Any officer elected by popular vote who is also a certified officer must complete annual recertification training to maintain certification. Any officer who is subject to this subdivision shall complete at least 24 hours each fiscal year beginning in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which he or she complies with
par. (b) 1.
165.85(4)(bn)1m.
1m. Each officer who is subject to
subd. 1. shall biennially complete at least 4 hours of training from curricula based upon model standards promulgated by the board under
par. (cm) 2. b. Hours of training completed under this subdivision shall count toward the hours of training required under
subd. 1.
165.85(4)(bn)2.
2. No person may continue as a jail officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless that person completes annual recertification training. The officer shall complete at least 24 hours each fiscal year beginning in the later of the following:
165.85(4)(bn)3.
3. No person may continue as a secure detention officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless that person completes annual recertification training. The officer shall complete at least 24 hours each fiscal year beginning in the later of the following:
165.85(4)(c)
(c) In addition to the requirements of
pars. (b) and
(bn), the board may, by rule, fix such other minimum qualifications for the employment of law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail or secure detention officers as relate to the competence and reliability of persons to assume and discharge the responsibilities of law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail or secure detention officers, and the board shall prescribe the means for presenting evidence of fulfillment of these requirements.
165.85(4)(cm)2.
2. The board shall promulgate rules that do all of the following:
165.85(4)(cm)2.a.
a. 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
subd. 2. a. not later than June 30 of each even-numbered year thereafter. The rules promulgated under this
subd. 2. a. 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
subd. 2. a.
165.85(4)(cm)2.b.
b. Establish the preparatory program and annual recertification training curricula required under
pars. (b) 1. and
(bn) 1m., respectively, relating to police pursuit standards, guidelines and driving techniques.
165.85(4)(d)
(d) Except as provided under
sub. (3m) (a), the board shall issue a certificate evidencing satisfaction of the requirements of
pars. (b),
(bn) and
(c) to any applicant who presents such evidence, as is required by its rules, of satisfactory completion of requirements equivalent in content and quality to those fixed by the board under the board's authority as set out in
pars. (b),
(bn) and
(c).
165.85(4)(dm)
(dm) The board may provide, by rule, that parts of the jail officer preparatory training and the secure detention officer preparatory training are identical and count toward either training requirement.
165.85(4)(e)
(e) This section does not preclude any law enforcement or tribal law enforcement agency or sheriff from setting recruit training and employment standards which are higher than the minimum standards set by the board.
165.85(4)(f)
(f) Except as provided under
sub. (3m) (a), and in addition to certification procedures under
pars. (a) to
(d), 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.
165.85(4m)
(4m) Training for constables. The board shall establish a separate training program for those constables who are not required to complete training under
sub. (4). Except as provided in
s. 60.22 (4), a constable may voluntarily participate in the program under this subsection. Expenses incurred for this program are subject to reimbursement under
sub. (5).
165.85(5)(a)(a) The board may authorize and approve law enforcement, jail or secure detention officer training programs conducted by an agency of a political subdivision or an agency of the state when their programs meet the standards required by the board. No authority granted in this paragraph extends to the board selecting a site for a state police, jail or secure detention officer academy and expending funds thereon without further legislation.
165.85(5)(b)
(b) The board shall authorize the reimbursement to each political subdivision of approved expenses incurred by officers who satisfactorily complete training at schools certified by the board. Reimbursement of these expenses for law enforcement officer, jail officer and secure detention officer preparatory training shall be for approved tuition, living and travel expenses for the first 400 hours of law enforcement preparatory training and for the first 120 hours of jail or secure detention officer preparatory training. Reimbursement of approved expenses for completion of annual recertification training under
sub. (4) (bn) shall include at least $160 per officer thereafter. 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.
165.85(5)(c)
(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.
165.85(5)(d)
(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.
165.85(5x)
(5x) 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 appropriation under
s. 20.455 (2) (am), subject to the limitations under
s. 20.455 (2) (am).
165.85(6)
(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.
165.85 History
History: 1973 c. 90,
333;
1975 c. 94 s.
91 (11);
1977 c. 29,
418;
1979 c. 111;
1981 c. 20;
1983 a. 27;
1985 a. 29,
260;
1987 a. 237,
366,
394;
1989 a. 31,
291;
1991 a. 39;
1993 a. 16,
167,
213,
399,
407,
460,
482,
491;
1995 a. 201,
225,
349;
1997 a. 27,
88,
191;
1999 a. 9;
2001 a. 16,
109.
165.85 Note
NOTE: 1993 Wis. Act 407, which creates subs. (2) (e) and (4) (f) and amends subs. (1), (3) and (4), contains extensive explanatory notes.
165.85 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
LES 1, Wis. adm. code.
165.85 Annotation
A rule adopted under this section properly barred a nonpardoned felon from holding a police job. Law Enforcement Standards Board v. Lyndon Station,
101 Wis. 2d 472,
305 N.W.2d 89 (1981).
165.85 Annotation
Sub. (4) (b) governs the terms of employment of a probationary sheriff's deputy so that the discipline procedures under s. 59.21 (8) (b) (now s. 59.28 (8) (b)) do not apply and an applicable collective bargaining agreement controls. Hussey v. Outagamie County,
201 Wis. 2d 14,
548 N.W.2d 848 (Ct. App. 1996).
165.85 Annotation
A police officer promoted to sergeant, subject to a one-year period of probation, could not be demoted without a just cause hearing under s. 62.13 (5) (em). An original appointment is on a probationary basis under sub. (4) (b). Once that period has passed, no promotion can be taken away without a hearing under s. 62.13 (5) (em). Antisdel v. City of Oak Creek Police and Fire Commission, 2000 WI 35,
234 Wis. 2d 154,
309 N.W.2d 464.
165.85 Annotation
Sub. (4) (b) 2. does not preclude temporary assignment of uncertified persons to fill in as jail officers when necessary as a result of sickness, vacations, or scheduling conflicts.
78 Atty. Gen. 146.
165.85 Annotation
Chief of police was entitled to hearing meeting due process requirements prior to discharge from office. Jessen v. Village of Lyndon Station,
519 F. Supp. 1183 (1981).
165.85 Annotation
A probationary police officer had no protected property interest in his job. Ratliff v. City of Milwaukee,
608 F. Supp. 1109 (1985).
165.86
165.86
Law enforcement training. The department shall:
165.86(1)(a)(a) Supply the staffing needs of the law enforcement standards board.
165.86(1)(b)
(b) Identify state agencies and political subdivisions that employ law enforcement officers in the state, notify the appropriate officials of the standards of employment and preparatory and recertification training established by the board, and develop appropriate procedures whereby acceptable evidence of compliance with the board's employment and preparatory and recertification training standards may be submitted.
