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Job Title


Special Agent (General)


Company : State of Wisconsin Division of Personnel Management


Location : Milwaukee, WI


Created : 2026-03-06


Job Type : Full Time


Job Description

Introduction Are you an experienced sworn law enforcement professional looking for an exciting and impactful career? Do you thrive in a fast-paced collaborative work environment? If so, DOJ has the elite law enforcement opportunity that you are looking for! It is the mission of the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) to protect the public and ensure that justice is done. Click here to learn more about DOJ. The DOJ, Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is charged with a purely criminal investigative mission and function. DCI employs Special Agents who are sworn law enforcement officers possessing statewide jurisdiction and charged with the responsibility of enforcing the laws of the State of Wisconsin. DCI has a primary responsibility of investigating crimes that are statewide in nature or importance. DCI Special Agents work closely with non-sworn professionals, and local, county, tribal, state and federal officials to investigate and prosecute crimes involving homicide, arson, financial crimes, illegal gaming, multi-jurisdictional crimes, drug trafficking, computer crimes, threats to national security, public integrity and government corruption as well as crimes against children. In addition, the division provides extensive training to local, state, tribal or federal officers and non-sworn professionals on current issues in law enforcement. Position Summary DCI is recruiting highly motivated and skilled Special Agent positions throughout the State of Wisconsin. These positions can be headquartered at any of the DCI Field Offices (Appleton, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, or Wausau) and consideration may be given to place a Resident Agent in the northwestern region of Wisconsin. Special Agents will be assigned to any of the following specializations: Arson Cybercrime Gaming Human Trafficking Internet Crimes Against Children Major Crimes Narcotics Public Integrity Social Security Technical Services Unit Threat Analysis Unit White Collar Crimes Special Agents are sworn law enforcement officers who provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies and investigate crimes of statewide importance and/or those that require highly specialized investigative resources. Special Agents: Carry firearms and conduct criminal investigations; perform undercover investigations and surveillance operations; execute search warrants; make arrests; prepare evidence and testify in court; process crime scenes; interview witnesses and interrogate suspects; maintain records and prepare reports; participate on teams; adapt and react to diverse situations; function in high stress situations. A Special Agent must successfully complete prescribed training in the specialized area of criminal investigation assigned and reports directly to a Special Agent In-Charge. Special Agents may be subject to strenuous physical activity and/or adverse environmental conditions. Each Special Agent is armed with a handgun and handcuffs. Special Agents occasionally wear ballistic vests and may also utilize law enforcement equipment such as rifles, shotguns, batons, or electronic control devices. Special Agents work a varied schedule that may require night, weekend, and holiday hours. Work assignments may require overnight stays and work during off hours and may require response to assignments on short notice. For more information, review the Special Agent (General) position description . For more information, review the Special Agent (Arson) position description . For more information, review the Special Agent (Bilingual) position description . This position is eligible for bilingual opportunities and may require the ability to read, write and/or speak fluently in English and any one of the following languages: Spanish, Hmong, Tribal, and/or American Sign Language (ASL). Please note, to be considered for the Bilingual position and receive $1.00 per hour add-on pay, the selected candidate must be fluent in both English and one of the four languages listed above. We will verify fluency at the time of hire. This recruitment may be used to fill other Special Agent vacancies that occur in the next 6 months and may be headquartered in any of the DCI Field Offices (Appleton, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, or Wausau). Apply Today! Salary Information The Special Agent position is in pay schedule 07 and pay range 03. The starting base wage will be between $44.00/hour and $45.67/hour depending upon experience and qualifications, plus excellent benefits. Special Agents also receive a base wage add-on of $7.00/hour. An add-on of up to $1.00/hour may be available for candidates who are bilingual. Pay for current or former state employees will follow the provisions found in the State of Wisconsin Compensation Plan effective at the time of hire. A 12-month probationary period may be required. The State of Wisconsin offers amazing benefits , such as: Generous paid time off, including at least 3 1/2 weeks of vacation/personal time, and nine paid holidays. Sick time that rolls over each year with no cap and may be used to pay for healthcare premiums in retirement. Affordable health insurance, dental, vision, life, and more. A top-notch retirement program and optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan. A Well Wisconsin program, offering wellness tools and rewards to employees and spouses. To learn more about DOJ's total compensation package, please visit our Total Rewards Calculator ! Job Details Special Requirements : Applicants must be a certified law enforcement officer in the State of Wisconsin OR certifiable upon appointment OR eligible to take the reciprocity examination. NOTE: for sworn law enforcement officer applicants from outside Wisconsin-Reciprocity Requirements for becoming a certified law enforcement officer in Wisconsin can be found at: Applicants must meet WI Law Enforcement Standards Board requirements, which include an extensive character and background investigation, including fingerprints, drug screening, psychological evaluation, and medical testing which will be completed on all DCI sworn law enforcement applicants prior to selection. Applicants must also: Be at least 18 years of age upon appointment. Possess a general educational development diploma or be a high school graduate. Possess/be eligible to possess a Wisconsin driver's license upon appointment. Have no unpardoned felony convictions or convictions of domestic violence offenses. Applicants must be free of Brady or Giglio disclosure obligations for testimony in court. Frequent in-state travel will be required, and occasional overnight or out-of-state travel may be necessary for investigative purposes. Must be eligible to drive when required for travel. The Department of Justice does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9. Qualifications Please address the following in your resume and/or letter of qualifications: A minimally qualified applicant must be a certified law enforcement officer in the State of Wisconsin or certifiable upon appointment , and must also have experience in the following: Writing affidavits (i.e., to obtain search warrants, court orders, subpoenas, preservation letters, etc.). Utilizing law enforcement and commercial databases to locate witnesses and suspects. Interviewing and interrogating suspects. Processing crime scenes (e.g., securing and assessing the scene, gathering evidence, securing chain of custody, inventorying evidence, etc.). Preparing and presenting cases for prosecutorial review. Preparing detailed and accurate narrative investigative reports. In addition to the minimum qualifications, a well-qualified applicant will also have a combination of education, training, and/or experience: Leading investigations (e.g., directing investigative activities and resources, formulating investigative approaches, determining follow-up, etc.). Utilizing specialized investigative techniques (i.e., trap and trace, telephonic ping orders, GPS order, PEN register, conducting fixed and mobile surveillance, etc.). Conducting specialized investigations (e.g., arson, narcotics, financial crimes, sensitive crimes, cybercrime, etc.). Recipient of specialized training or specialized investigative certifications (e.g., forensic interviewing, fraud examiner, crypto currency, clandestine lab response, multi-lingual skills, etc.). Developing and maintaining professional relationships with government agencies and other law enforcement officials for the purpose of coordinating services. How To Apply The steps to apply online are quick and easy! Your application materials, including your resume and letter of qualifications, are used during our evaluation process to determine your eligibility for further consideration. It is critically important that your application materials clearly describe your experience related to the stated job qualifications. Please review our helpful tips for developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included. Be advised that there will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked "Submit." Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer or voluntary demotion) should complete the application process as described above by the stated deadline. The WI Department of Justice is committed to providing opportunities to all applicants from all backgrounds. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program. Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. We appreciate the time and effort it takes to apply for positions. If any questions arise, please contact the DOJ Recruiter email at . For general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page. Deadline to Apply The deadline to apply for this job announcement is Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 11:59pm.