NOW HIRING A CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO FILL A PATROL DEPUTY POSITION!

• STARTING PAY BETWEEN $31.41 – $39.21 PER HOUR DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE.
• WAGES INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL $2 PER HOUR ON WEEKENDS AND AN ADDITIONAL $2 PER HOUR ON SHIFTS STARTING AT NOON OR LATER.
• UP TO 144 HOURS OF VACATION UPON HIRE FOR LATERAL TRANSFER CANDIDATES.
• PERSONALLY ASSIGNED TAKE HOME SQUAD CAR.

DEPUTY SHERIFF:  The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is recruiting to fill current Deputy Sheriff vacancies. This is a patrol deputy position.  Patrol deputies will be issued a take home squad that is assigned to them.  Deputies are eligible for specialized teams like SWAT, Dive Team, Boat Patrol, Drug Unit, Honor Guard, K-9, Crisis Negotiation, Critical Incident Debriefing, Accident Reconstruction, Crime Scene Evidence Tech, and Drone Unit.

Qualifications: Minimum two-year associate degree or 60 credits from an accredited Technical College, College, or University; a High School diploma or its equivalent; and a minimum of 18 years of age. Must be State Law Enforcement Standards Board Certified or Certifiable.

Requirements: Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license with a good driving record. Be able to pass an extensive and thorough background check including physical and psychological examination as well as drug and alcohol screening.  Must be willing to work a flexible schedule that includes holidays, weekends, and nights. Must have uncompromised integrity with high moral standards.

How to Apply: Submit WI Law Enforcement Standard Board application DJ-LE330.  Applicants MUST complete the 3 questions in Section 6 for consideration. Selection process includes review of application documents, oral interviews, background investigation, medical & psychological evaluations, drug and alcohol screenings. Applicants can obtain the Law Enforcement application from the Columbia County Website or Wilenet. Applications deadline is April 17, 2026, at 8am. Interviews for the top candidates will be scheduled after that time. Applications can be sent to human.resources@columbiacountywi.gov or mailed to Columbia County HR, PO Box 63, Portage, WI 53901. An equal opportunity employer. 

The 2026 pay range is $31.41 - $42.74 per hour with a starting pay range between $31.41 – $39.21 per hour depending on law enforcement experience and certifications as dictated by the Columbia County lateral transfer program. 

Patrol deputies work a 12-hour shift and will be scheduled off every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Pitman schedule).  Excellent benefits package with health, dental, and eye insurance, up to 144 hours of vacation for lateral transfers, 88 hours of Holidays, 8 hours of sick time earned per month.  Patrol Deputies will receive an additional $2.00 per hour for weekend hours worked, plus an additional shift differential of $2.00 per hour for any shift starting at noon or later. Columbia County contributes $35 each pay period into a separate Healthcare Reimbursement Account ("HRA") to be used upon retirement for health insurance costs. Upon Retirement, Deputies will receive $8,000 a year for health insurance if they meet the required years of service as stated in the collective bargaining agreement. All uniforms and equipment are issued upon start date with a yearly uniform allowance of $700 after the first year. 

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is recruiting to fill future vacancies for a Jail Deputy. Schedule is 12-hour shifts with every other 3-day weekend off. Qualifications:  High School Diploma or equivalent; excellent moral character; dependable; and ability to handle and control inmates. Selection process includes oral interviews, background investigation, medical & psychological evaluations, drug and alcohol screenings, county residency not required.  Hire rate $27.985 per hour. Pay may be negotiable for an exceptionally qualified candidate. Columbia County also offers the following incentives:

• Additional Two Dollars ($2) per hour weekend pay.  
• Jail staff who complete five (5) years of service in the Jail shall receive a one-time payment of Two Thousand Dollard ($2,000).
• Jail staff who retire from the County at age fifty-five (55) or above with at least twenty-five (25) years of continuous service with the Sheriff’s Office, shall receive Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) into a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) per year, through the age of sixty-five (65). 

Application process:

REQUIRED to submit WI Law Enforcement Standard Board application DJ-LE330 complete the 3 questions in Section 6 General.  

Please limit your response to a one-page typed letter. 

Obtain the Law Enforcement application from the Columbia County website https://www.co.columbia.wi.us or wilenet.org  Application deadline is May 11, 2026.  Applications accepted by email: human.resources@columbiacountywi.gov fax 608-742-9802 or mail Columbia County HR, PO Box 63, Portage, WI  53901.  AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are hiring for a full-time 911 Dispatcher/Communication Operator. Come and join our team and start a new and exciting career!

Qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent required; related work experience, preferably with operating two-way radio equipment; strong computer and communication skills. Must have the ability to effectively multitask, simultaneously using multiple information systems. Must possess excellent moral character; be dependable; and be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays. Newly hired dispatchers should expect to work traditional 2^nd or 3^rd shift hours. Shifts are 12 hours in length, on a two-week rotating schedule, with every other 3-day weekend off (Pitman schedule).

The selection process includes oral interviews, background investigation, medical and psychological evaluation, and drug/alcohol screening. Columbia County residency is not required. The initial hiring rate of pay is $25.52 per hour. Pay may be negotiable for an exceptionally qualified candidate. Columbia County also offers the following incentives:

• Additional Two Dollars ($2) per hour weekend pay.

• Additional Two Dollars ($2) per hour nighttime shift differential premium pay.

• Great benefits for sick time, holiday time and vacation time.

Applicants should submit the WI Law Enforcement Standards Board DJ-LE-330 application found on the Columbia County Human Resources website or Wilenet.gov. Applications are accepted via email sent to human.resources@columbiacountywi.gov, fax 608-742-9802, or mailed to Columbia County Human Resources PO Box 63, Portage, WI 53901.

Top candidates will be contacted for an interview.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Now Hiring - Part Time

Courthouse Security / Transport Deputy

Individuals With Past Law Enforcement or Correctional Experience Are Encouraged to Apply!

Seeking individuals to work 2-3 days per week performing courthouse security and inmate transport duties on a part time basis. This position is an armed and uniformed Special Deputy Sheriff position working for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. Shifts are Monday-Friday with daytime hours.

Applicants must have been certified or certifiable by Wisconsin DOJ Training and Standards Board for either the law enforcement or jail academies and pass and maintain said State of WI certifications for Firearms, EVOC, and Defensive Tactics.

How to Apply: Submit WI Law Enforcement Standard Board application DJ-LE330.  Selection process includes review of application documents, oral interviews, background investigation, medical & psychological evaluations, drug and alcohol screenings. Obtain the Law Enforcement application from the Columbia County Website (https://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/) or Wilenet.  Applications accepted by email: human.resources@columbiacountywi.gov  fax 608-742-9802 or mail Columbia County HR, PO Box 63, Portage, WI  53901. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.  AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER