Police Officer Eligibility List

The Cottage Grove Police Department is developing a Police Officer Eligibility List.  

The Village of Cottage Grove population is approximately 9,345 (2024) and located in the east central part of Dane County. Cottage Grove serves as the gateway between the Madison metro area and the I-94 Madison/Milwaukee corridor. The Village is home to beautiful parks, top schools, various commercial and business complexes, and diverse residential settings.

The current contract (2024-2025) is available on the Village website to review, and the Village is currently in negotiations for a successor contract.

The Cottage Grove Police Department is led by Chief Mark W. Garry II, and is allocated a sworn staff of 21 full-time officers and two full-time support staff. Come join our team as we grow with the community!

Apply online and include a resume and cover letter as attachments.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: October 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
• Written/Physical Testing: Monday, October 13, 2025, starting at 3 p.m.
• Peer Panel/Command Staff Interviews: Thursday, October 23, 2025, starting at 2 p.m.
• Police Commission Interviews: The week of November 3, 2025, exact date and times TBD

If you know in advance your schedule conflicts with any of these dates or times, please email Assistant Administrator/Human Resources Manager Inga Cushman or call (608) 839-4704 so alternate dates/times can be reviewed.

Lateral Transfers
The Village has the right to hire experienced police officers through lateral entry.

The compensation and vacation may, at the Chief’s discretion, be at a higher step than the start rate but won’t exceed the applicant’s actual prior years of full-time law enforcement experience.

The wage step at which the applicant is placed will determine the amount of vacation allotment the applicant will be
provided.

Laterally hired employees will accrue one day of vacation for each full month worked for the Village during the year of hire. Thereafter, the lateral hire will be credited with the full amount of vacation that correlates with the wage step at which they
were hired.

Position Description
Purpose of Position
This is an entry-level sworn police position responsible for protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Work involves patrolling assigned areas, responding to criminal, suspicious, traffic and unusual situations as directed; investigating activities, gathering evidence, securing areas; protecting victims, the public and property; apprehending violators, completing appropriate paperwork and other related duties as required. Police Officers are also required to perform first responder duties and provide basic emergency medical service.

Position Accountability
General day-to-day supervision, administrative direction, and performance evaluation will be received from their designated sergeant with input from the Police Lieutenant and Police Chief.

Supervision Exercised
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Major Duties & Responsibilities:

The following provides an overview of duties related to this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Operate, with proficiency, all police equipment & vehicles as related to the police officer position.
• Carry, qualify with, and maintain a firearm.
• Complete all reports, paperwork, and documents necessary to the police officer position, including, but not limited to, offense reports, accident reports, evidence forms, citizen contact forms, victim information sheets, village summons, traffic and parking tickets.
• Summarize information from telephone or radio call conversation.
• Assist individuals with a variety of emergency & non-emergency incidents.
• Patrol, observe, and monitor residences, parks, businesses, and streets to check for criminal activity and conduct investigations/make arrests as appropriate.
• Conduct business/home security inspections.
• Make presumptive diagnosis about nature and extent of patient's condition and choose appropriate treatment and transport technique.
• Prioritize treatment protocol or patient care on scene and conduct triage as required.
• Communicate with victims, suspects, and witnesses to gather and provide information regarding a crime.
• Notify parents/guardians of juveniles involved in mischief or taken into custody.
• Offer credible testimony at a trial or hearing regarding the specifics of an incident, arrests that were made, evidence that was gathered, or other investigation completed.
• Label, safeguard, and package evidence.
• Analyze and compare cases for similarity of Modus Operandi (M.O.).
• Serve warrant, subpoena, or other court order.
• Organize and conduct photograph line-ups to isolate suspect
• Maintains regular punctual and predictable attendance, works overtime and extra hours as required.
• Read manuals, correspondence, investigative reports, follow-up reports, lab reports, policies and any other job-related documents relevant to the requirements of the police officer position.
• Inspect patrol car and equipment to ensure proper operation of communication and emergency equipment.
• Brief supervisors about shift activities.
• Operate office equipment (fax, telephone, computer, and printer) to send/receive information.
• Participate in regional meetings to provide training, to host seminars, to make suggestions, and to obtain information.
• Lecture to outside agencies (e.g., civic leagues, schools) as a representative of the department (e.g., drug education).

Education, Experience, & Qualifications:

• Educational Requirements;
  • Those hired with this department on or after October 7, 2010 are required to have a minimum of an associate’s degree at an approved college, university, or technical school.
  • Those hired with this department on February 1, 1993 but prior to prior to October 7, 2010, must have at least 60 college credits from an approved college, university or technical school.
  • Those first employed and continuously employed as a Wisconsin law enforcement officer prior to February 1, 1993 are exempt from this educational requirement. (Reference: Wisconsin Administrative Code LES 2.01(1)(e)) Must meet Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board Certification requirements.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws and ordinances.
• Knowledge of current law and case decisions relating to laws of arrest, search and seizure, interrogations, and the handling of evidence.
• Knowledge of modern principles, practices and methods of police operations.
• Knowledge of departmental rules of conduct, regulations and policies.
• Knowledge of current investigative, interrogation, and interview techniques & procedures.
• Knowledge of crime scene management (e.g., how to secure perimeter, collecting and packaging evidence, handle citizens and media at location, etc.).
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in an efficient and effective manner.
• Ability to deal effectively and compassionately with victims, suspects, and family members of each.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with police informants, the public, and other law enforcement agencies.
• Ability to function effectively in unpleasant, stressful, and/or hostile situations and environments, and to act appropriately in emergency situations.
• Ability to take control of situations where authority is needed.
• Ability to work both in a team environment and independent of direct supervision, in an effective and efficient manner.
• Ability to plan and schedule your own work to meet time constraints and changing priorities.
• Ability to think clearly and decisively in the application of law enforcement duties; and to take appropriate action as the situation dictates.
• Ability to identify and/or gather the information needed to generate an effective solution to a problem or dispute.
• Ability to use multiple sources of information to prioritize programs or action plans.
• Ability to recognize the pros and cons of possible solutions or actions to determine the best solution to a problem or means to resolve a dispute.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative to actively influence events, rather than passively accept results of the actions of others.
• Ability to conduct complex criminal and/or internal investigations.
• Ability to work varied hours and/or overtime.
• Knowledge of Defensive Driving techniques.
• Ability to drive a motor vehicle; possess and maintain a valid Wisconsin driver’s license.
• Other standards set by the Cottage Grove Police Commission.
• To perform the job of police officer successfully, an individual must be able to execute each duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The police officer must:
• Possess the flexibility to assume a variety of positions and postures necessary to effectively employ any available “cover and concealment” during a perceived use of deadly force encounter.
• Possess the range of motion to respond to a physical attack, and at a minimum possess the ability to escape the attacker and/or summon aid.
• Possess the ability to fully operate and qualify with the department issued firearms while utilizing both hands, as well as each hand individually. Also at least annually demonstrate proficiency with all department employed weapons to a level as determined by the Chief of Police or the department’s Weapons Training Officer.
• Possess the ability to operate/utilize all department vehicle-mounted equipment whether in a mobile or stationary mode.
• Possess the ability to operate department office equipment such as telephones, computers, audio/video devices and all department training equipment/aids.
• Possess the ability to operate all equipment necessary for performing routine duty assignments, apprehending and processing criminal, and conducting both criminal and traffic-related investigations.
• Possess the physical capability to apprehend suspects to the extent of engaging in foot pursuits while summoning assistance and/or engaging in the necessary use of force.
• Possess adequate night vision ability to permit the safe operation of a motor vehicle and detection of obstacles/threats in a variety of situations and environments.
• Possess adequate peripheral vision to permit the safe operation of a motor vehicle during normal and/or emergency situations, as well as be able to detect obstacles/threats in a variety of environments.
• Possess the ability to see, read, and recognize obstacles in a variety of normal and/or emergency environments. Have vision that is correctable to “normal vision” standards.
• Possess the ability to use standard telephones and radio equipment.
• Possess the ability to determine or estimate the point of origin of noise.
• Possess the ability to recognize/relate sound to situations based on sound frequencies or voice inflection within the normal range of human hearing.
• Possess normal senses for touch and smell.
• Possess the ability to speak, read and write the English language in a clear, understandable fashion.
• Possess the ability to reasonably identify and employ basic non-verbal communications (body language).
• Possess the capability and endurance to administer first aid, to include Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Possess the ability to perform duties for extended periods of time while exposed to adverse conditions, to include time worked in excess of the normal daily duty shift and inclement weather (i.e. extreme heat/cold, rain, snow, etc.).
• Possess the ability to discern colors as they’re applied in traffic safety situations (electric signals, signing, hazardous materials placards, etc.).
• Possess adequate depth perception, (i.e. judging distances and estimate speed).