Police Educational Program.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 350-137
in effect350-137. Police Educational Program.
1. POSITIONS ELIGIBLE. The following classes of positions in the police department shall receive additional compensation for the completion of approved course work subject to the conditions of this section:
a. Chief of police.
b. Assistant chief of police.
c. Deputy chief of police.
d. Inspector of police.
2. INCREMENTS. Annual payment for the completion of approved course work shall be as follows:
a. $95 per year for officers with at least 16 credits, but less than 28 credits.
b. $145 per year for officers with at least 28 credits, but less than 40 credits.
c. $195 per year for officers with at least 40 credits, but less than 52 credits.
d. $245 per year for officers with at least 52 credits, but less than 64 credits.
e. $295 per year for officers with at least 64 credits, but less than 90 credits; or if eligible employee possesses an associate degree.
f. $370 for officers with at least 90 credits, but less than 120 credits.
g. $470 for officers with 120 or more credits, but not possessing a bachelor’s degree; $750 per year for a bachelor’s degree.
h. No employee may receive more than $770 of educational pay for a calendar year regardless of the number of degrees and credits earned; no employee may receive more than $470 of educational pay for a calendar year unless the employee holds a bachelor’s degree.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. These payments shall be made on an annual basis as soon as possible after December 31 of the current year. Officers who attain the required educational credits during the calendar year shall be paid a prorated amount from the first pay period after the educational courses are completed and reported to the police department to December 31 of the appropriate year.
4. FULL YEAR'S EMPLOYMENT. No officer shall receive an educational bonus payment for any year in which he does not remain in the employment of the police department, for a full calendar year.
5. MINIMUM YEARS OF SERVICE. No officer will be eligible for an educational bonus payment unless he or she has a minimum of 5 years' service in the police department with a rank of police officer or above.
6. ADDED TO BASE SALARY. Educational bonus payment shall be in addition to the base salary of the position eligible for such payments. These payments shall not be used in the calculation of overtime pay or in the calculation of pension benefits.
7. APPROVED COURSES. Approved courses of study for which payment will be made under this section are courses in which credit has been successfully earned from one of the following regional accreditation associations: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.; Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
8. DEGREES. Police officers who have earned a degree shall request that the degree-granting collegiate institutions send a report to the police department with a statement as to the date on which the degree was conferred, the major field of study pursued, and that the institution was a member in good standing of an association listed in sub. 7 at the time the degree was granted.
9. TRANSCRIPT COSTS. Any transcripts or credits or evaluation thereof shall be at the expense, if any, of the applying police officer.
10. OFFICER RESPONSIBLE. Each eligible police officer shall be responsible for making the necessary requests of collegiate institutions for the purpose of informing the Milwaukee police department as to the number of credits that apply on the above described educational bonus payments plan.
11. ADMINISTRATION. Administration and control of the provisions enumerated herein shall be under the chief of police.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-3/CH350-sub7.pdf#page=4Fetched: 10/26/2026