Beat Patrol (2027)
Beat Patrol (2027) supports police departments in Wisconsin cities with high violent crime rates by funding additional officers for community work and regular beat patrols, increasing patrol capacity.
Funder: Wisconsin Department of Justice
Due Dates: October 15, 2026 (application, 11:59 p.m.)
Funding Amounts: $1,224,900 for 10 projects in 2027; city allocations of $121,434 or $126,714 in state funds
Summary: Funds additional police officers assigned to community work and regular beat patrols in 10 eligible Wisconsin cities.
Key Information: Only the 10 cities named in the announcement are eligible, and each must provide a 25% local match.
Description
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Programs administers Beat Patrol under Wisconsin Statutes § 165.986. The program supports additional police personnel for community work and regular beat patrols in cities with populations over 25,000 and the highest violent crime rates. Eligibility is recalculated every three years using violent-crime data reported through the Uniform Crime Reporting system; the 2027 calculation uses crime reported for 2025.
Funds cover salary and fringe benefits for officers assigned to regular patrol duties. The supported positions must increase the number of officers assigned to beat patrol rather than replace existing support. Applicants describe the local problem, their project objectives, and how department staff will carry out the work.
