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FPC committee signals consensus to cut sergeant eligibility from 7 to 6 years; detectives with 2 years could test at 5
Summary
On May 12 the Fire and Police Commission Testing and Recruiting Committee signaled support for reducing the Milwaukee Police Department sergeant promotional minimum from seven years to six and for allowing detectives with two years’ detective service to substitute one year (eligible to test at five years). The change will be reflected in a job announcement to the full FPC on May 21.
The Fire and Police Commission Testing and Recruiting Committee on May 12 indicated a consensus to shorten the continuous-service requirement for the Milwaukee Police Department sergeant promotional exam from seven years to six and to allow detectives with two years of detective service to substitute one year, enabling those detectives to be eligible to test as early as five years.
The recommendation came from Leon Todd, the Fire and Police Commission executive director, who said the seven-year requirement is ‘‘at the upper end of what is a reasonable range’’ and that the national average is closer to five years. Todd told the committee his staff and the department believe trimming the period to six years would open advancement opportunities and could help morale and retention.
Committee members framed the change as a balance between creating promotion opportunities and preserving incentives to remain in detective positions. Chris Martin, speaking as the Milwaukee Police Supervisors Organization representative, cautioned that lowering the requirement could ‘‘increase your numbers’’ of eligible candidates but might make it harder to retain detectives when the department must grow detective ranks under Act 12. Martin cited a memo showing a reduction from seven to six years would add about 64 members to the eligible pool, increasing eligibility from roughly 65 percent to about 70 percent.
Commissioners discussed variants, including a universal drop to six years with a targeted bonus for detectives. Chair Commissioner Spencer described the preferred formulation as a universal six-year minimum, with detectives who have two years of detective service allowed to substitute one year so they could test at five years. Director Todd and Molly (a fire/HR representative) agreed to clarify the HR and job-posting language so the position announcement is consistent with other listings.
Todd also noted operational context: detective testing saw a strong eligible list in 2023 (about 100 candidates) but a much smaller list in 2025 (around 45), and MPD must expand detective staffing from about 140 to 175 over the next eight years under Act 12, increasing urgency to refine recruitment and promotion pathways.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the policy at the meeting; Chair Spencer said the job announcement bulletin incorporating the agreed language will be brought to the full Fire and Police Commission at its May 21 meeting for consideration. The committee’s direction is to present the six-year requirement and the detective substitution option for the full commission to review.
What happens next: the job announcement will be drafted with HR/legal wording and presented to the full commission on May 21. Any final change to the promotional rules will be effectuated according to the commission’s formal process and timeline.
