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Police Communications Operator salary, benefits and paid time off

Training | Salary | Retirement | Insurances | Leave | Vacation | Holidays | Meals | Uniforms | Other benefits

Training

Training for the position of Police Communications Operator (PCO) is primarily on-the-job. Additional schooling in computer operations and police telecommunications may also be provided. Each year, the State Patrol Academy sponsors in-service training for PCOs based on pertinent training needs.

Salary

Fringe Benefits

The fringe benefits offered to State of Wisconsin employees are significant, and are a valuable part of an individual's compensation package. The fringe benefits may vary somewhat between employee groups based on: occupational status; whether or not the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement; and, percentage of full-time employment. Police Communication Operators are represented by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association.

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Retirement

Wisconsin Retirement System

State employees are covered immediately under the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). Vested employee-required contributions, approximately 5% of an employee's earnings, are made by the State on behalf of the employee. The State pays another 5-10%, depending upon the employee's occupational status, toward the non-vested employer-required contribution.

For additional information on the WRS, please refer to the booklet entitled "Your Benefit Handbook".

Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program

The Wisconsin Deferred Compensation program is a supplemental retirement savings program that is available to all active state employees. This program allows employees to invest pre-tax earnings into a variety of investment options offered by the program. The annual maximum in 2007 is $15,500, and this will be periodically increased by the federal government in $500 increments based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

There are 21 investment options currently offered by the plan, plus a self-directed brokerage option that provides more than 2,000 mutual fund choices, available through the Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account.

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Insurance options

Health insurance

A variety of Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Plans, and fee-for-service health providers offer coverage. Employees may obtain coverage within one month of starting work, but the State contribution toward premium is not effective until after six months of State employment under the Wisconsin Retirement system.

Life insurance

After six months of coverage under the Wisconsin Retirement System, an employee may obtain group term life insurance coverage in an amount up to five times his/her annual salary. The State contributes a portion of the premium for coverage up to two times the salary. Employees may also secure coverage for their spouse (up to $20,000) and dependents (up to $10,000 each).

Income continuation insurance

After six months of coverage in the Wisconsin Retirement System, employees are eligible for income continuation insurance. This benefit ensures that individuals will receive up to 75% of their gross salary for physical or mental disabilities. The employer's contribution, which can range from 0% to 100%, is contingent upon an employee's accrual and use of sick leave.

Catastrophic insurance

Supplemental medical, accidental death and dismemberment, and dental coverage are available. Employees pay the entire premium. Catastrophic coverage is intended to supplement, not replace primary health coverage.

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Accidental death and dismemberment insurance

The Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Plan is an "employee pay all" insurance plan offering low-cost, high-limit accidental death and dismemberment benefits 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, on or off the job.

Long-term care insurance

This insurance covers short and long-term home health care, assisted living, community-based care, and nursing home care. The plan is available to State employees, including their spouse, parents and spouse's parents. Employees pay the entire premium.

Spectera vision care program

The Spectera program pays for: a comprehensive eye exam once every 12 months that is 100% paid for after a $10 co-pay; a pair of lenses for glasses or a pair of contacts once every 12 months after a $25 co-pay; and glasses frames once every 24 months after a $25 co-pay. Employees who enroll in the vision care program are committing to paying premiums for the entire calendar year unless there is a qualifying event that allows them to get out of the program. Employees will pay the entire premium; there is no state contribution. Premiums will be pre-tax for permanent employees.

Dental insurance

Some dental coverage is included in many of the group health user plans and the catastrophic insurance plans. Additional dental coverage is available for which the employee pays the entire premium. Some unions also offer separate coverage to their membership.

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Other benefits

Pre-tax benefits

The Employee Reimbursement Account (ERA) Program is an optional, tax-free benefit program that allows an eligible employee to pay certain expenses from pre-tax rather than post-tax salary. Expenses paid through the ERA program are not taxable for federal, state and FICA purposes. The tax savings are immediate and final. They are not deferred to a later date.

In addition, premiums for State group health, catastrophic, and life insurance (excluding spouse and dependent life insurance coverage) may be treated as pre-tax deductions.

Meal reimbursement

For those eligible, reimbursement is $4 for a bag lunch.

Transfer and promotional opportunities

Classified state employees are eligible to transfer to other civil service positions and to compete for promotional appointments, in accordance with civil service rules and laws, and collective bargaining agreements.

Uniforms

Uniforms are issued by the employer and are exchanged for replacement as needed.

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Paid leave

Sick leave

Sick leave is earned at the rate of five hours per bi-weekly pay period for full-time employees. Unused sick leave accumulates from year to year. Upon retirement, the State matches a certain amount of the unused sick leave, and the entire balance is converted at the employee's highest base pay rate to pay health insurance premiums.

Annual leave/vacation

Vacation is earned from the first day of employment, but cannot be used until the employee has worked for six months. Vacation is based upon the employee's seniority date at the following rate:

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Personal holidays

All Police Communication Operators are eligible for 36 hours of personal holiday leave credit each year. Personal holiday credit is non-cumulative and must be used in the year that it is earned. Employees are eligible to use personal holiday while on original probation. However, if an employee does not satisfactorily complete his/her original probation, personal holiday is prorated and any overdrafts will be adjusted on the employee's last paycheck.

Legal holidays

All Police Communication Operators earn 72 hours of legal holiday credit each year for the holidays listed below. Legal holiday time is given to each employee at the beginning of the calendar year and may be used at any time during that calendar year. However, if an employee terminates employment prior to the end of the year, any unearned used legal holiday must be deducted from the employee's last paycheck or reimbursed by personal check. When an employee is required by the employer to work the legal holidays, the employee will be compensated premium pay at the rate of time and one-half the employee's regular rate for all hours worked.

The legal holidays are:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve Day
Christmas Day
New Year's Eve Day

For more information contact Cathie Cunningham at (608) 266-3425 or the State Patrol Academy at (608) 269-2500 ext. 0.

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Questions about the content of this page:
State Patrol jobs, jobs.statepatrol@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: July 10, 2008