ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A POLICE OFFICER
IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
Minimum Standards

You must successfully complete a Police Academy in the State of Michigan. Several academies are available in the State and have varying lengths of programs. A minimum program is 440 hours, but most exceed that time. This is a full-time commitment of five days per week and recruits are urged to concentrate solely on the academy by not working or carrying academic courses elsewhere. Rigorous testing takes place and a minimum standard must be maintained as outlined by both the Michigan Council on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) and the local academy.

Application Alternatives:

1. A law enforcement agency hires you and sponsors you into an academy. The sponsorship means you are an employee of that department, and the department assumes all costs for your attendance.
2. You apply to an academy as a pre-service candidate; and if you successfully pass the MCOLES requirements for pre-employment AND the additional requirements by the local academy, you may be accepted. You pay for this training, which may also include housing costs while you are in the academy. Each academy differs on the cost, dependent upon how long the training is and other varying costs associated with training.

Employment Qualifications - State Law

• U.S. citizen
• 18 years or older
• High school diploma or GED
• No felony convictions (many police agencies exceed this requirement and will accept no misdemeanor convictions)
• Good moral character which includes a thorough background investigation
• Normal hearing, normal color vision and eye functions correctable to 20/20
• Pass a physical examination showing no physical defects, organic or chronic diseases, or mental or emotional instabilities
• Successful completion of a police academy

• Pass a drug screening

• Pass the MCOLES certification exam

Before sending a person to a Council approved school, the hiring agency or police academy (for pre-service) candidates shall:

1. Be examined by a licensed physician to determine that the applicant meets established standards. A declaration of the applicant's medical history shall be made available to the examining physician and shall become a part of the background investigation;
2. Be fingerprinted and a search made of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record;
3. Go through an oral interview to determine the applicant's acceptability for a police officer position and to assess appearance, background, and ability to communicate;
4. And the Academy shall certify that the prospective trainee meets the minimum employment standards.

Prior to entry into an academy, all candidates must successfully complete the MCOLES pre-employment test battery of reading/writing and physical skills examinations. There is a fee for these tests.

The Reading and Writing Test consists of 100 multiple-choice test questions. One-half of the questions measure writing skills and one-half measure reading comprehension. The test questions measure skills required both in training and on the job, as determined from an analysis of actual reading/writing materials.

The MCOLES scores the Reading/Writing test and reports PASS/FAIL information to each prospective employing agency. For those who pass the test, a letter grade is reported, i.e., A, B, or C. This letter grade indicates to the employer whether you are in the top (A), middle (B), or lower (C) group among those applicants who have passed the test.

The pre-employment Physical Skills Test, which is conducted in a gymnasium and monitored strictly by the MCOLES, consists of six events. The events are:

1. Push-ups: The applicant is to do as many push-up as possible in 60 seconds.
2. Grip: Both right and left grips are tested and recorded in kilograms of pressure.
3. Obstacle Course: The total distance for this obstacle course is 90 ft. and it is run for time.
4. 165 lb. Drag: The applicant drags a 165 lb. life form dummy 50 ft. for time.
5. 95 lb. Carry: The applicant lifts a 95 lb. bag and runs 60 ft. with it and places it on a 32 inch high platform for time.
6. 1/2 Mile Shuttle Run: The applicant runs between two pylons placed 88 ft apart for a total of 15 round trips for time.

Test information is available, as well as test dates and locations, from any of the regional test centers. Test center location information can be obtained by calling the MCOLES at 517/322-1946.

Questions regarding MCOLES Testing Schedule should be directed to the site at which you want to take the test or e-mail Tim Homberg, Internship Placement Coordinator, or call Tim at 517/432-3197.

In addition to fulfilling the standards of the State of Michigan, each academy has its own set of requirements and procedures which must be successfully completed for entry into that academy. Contact the academy directly for specific information.

Students may obtain MSU internship credits while attending a police academy provided application is made prior to academy entry. Retroactive credit will not be given. If you are considering this option, it should be in your senior year because of the one-year employment eligibility limitation.

Internship's are graded on a Pass-No Credit System. Grades are based on:

• Successful completion of the Academy
• A final paper due two weeks after completion of the Academy