police officer
Certified/Certifiable
Are you already a certified or going to be certified soon? Join a team that expects the very best. A team that provides a level of service that is continually seen as being among the finest in Michigan. GRPD is looking for community-minded, self-motivated and goal-oriented individuals to join our family. Be a part of a department that believes in investing in partnerships with its community, proactive crime prevention, and ensuring fairness for all.
Pay
| Pay Step | 2022 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |
| POLICE RECRUIT OFFICER (Academy and In-House Training) | $52,321 | $25.15 | $53,367 | $25.66 | $54,168 | $26.04 |
| STEP A (After 6 Months) | $56,824 | $27.32 | $57,960 | $27.87 | $58,830 | $28.28 |
| STEP B (After 1 Year Probation/Lateral 1+ Years of Service) | $69,180 | $33.26 | $70,564 | $33.92 | $71,622 | $34.43 |
| STEP C (After 2 Years/Lateral 2+ Years of Service) | $71,155 | $34.21 | $72,578 | $34.89 | $73,667 | $35.42 |
| STEP D (After 3 Years/Lateral 3+ Years of Service) | $75,458 | $36.28 | $76,967 | $37.00 | $78,122 | $37.56 |
| STEP E (After 4 Years/Lateral 4+ Years of Service) | $79,484 | $38.21 | $81,074 | $38.98 | $82,290 | $39.56 |
| STEP F (After 5 Years/Lateral 5+ Years of Service) | $85,705 | $41.21 | $87,419 | $42.03 | $88,730 | $42.66 |
| SENIOR OFFICER (After 10 Years at GRPD) | $88,275 | $42.44 | $90,041 | $43.29 | $91,391 | $43.94 |
Officers work on a hourly basis
- Any additional hours outside your normal scheduled time are considered overtime
- Patrol officers work 12 hour shifts
- Days: (5:30 am – 5:30 pm / 6:30 am – 6:30 pm)
- Nights: (5:30 pm- 5:30 am / 6:30 pm- 6:30 am)
- Specialty units work 8 and 10 hour shifts; the times for these vary
- Examples of Specialty Unit Assignments: Community Engagement Unit, Detective Unit, K9 Unit (works patrol shift hours), Special Response Team, Traffic Unit, and more
- Examples of Secondary Assignments: Bomb Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Training Instructor, and more
Overtime
- Recorded as time and a half
- Can be taken as pay or comp time
- Numerous opportunities available, including festivals, concerts, sporting events, and patrol shifts
Benefits
Retirement
- Defined Benefit Plan Pension
- 2.0% multiplier, with option to purchase up to a 2.8% multiplier after 6 months of service
(Ex: 2.8% multiplier equals 80% maximum pension benefit at approximately 28.5 years of service)
- ICMA 457 plan option
Insurance
- Health/Vision/Dental/Life (Optional)
Vacation Time
- Start with 80 hours of vacation
- 8 hours accrued for each year, thereafter
(maximum of 200 hours)
Up to 320 hours can carry over from year to year
- 12 paid holidays
Sick Time
- 8 hours of sick time are awarded for each month of service
- An unlimited amount can carry over 1,265 hours sick time counts toward 1 year of pension credit at retirement
Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Up to 80 hours of paid leave
- Does not count against vacation time or sick time
Training
- 8 week orientation program
- 16 week field training program
- Various refresher and new courses offered throughout year
Health and Wellness Incentives
- Work out facilities available 24/7 to employees.
- Employees can earn up to five additional days of leave per year for participating in Brazilian Jujitsu training off duty.
- Employees can earn up to two additional days of leave per year for maintaining their fitness.
- Fitness & wellness credits can earn you up to $250 additional per year.
- Weekly stretching and mobility classes.
- Nutritionist/personal training 30-60 min session, available weekly.
- Onsite registered nurse health clinic is available weekly.
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Possess good moral character
- Possess good reading and writing skills
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- Have a record clear of any felonies and certain misdemeanors
- Have successfully completed a MCOLES accredited police academy, be a MCOLES Certified Police Officer, or have completed a MCOLES RPTE (Recognition of Prior Training and Experience) class for out of state officers
Job Description
- Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service
- Take criminal and non-criminal reports
- Follow-up and investigate crimes which have occurred
- Conduct proactive enforcement
- Traffic stops
- Directed policing related to area crime
- Canvassing neighborhoods for issues citizens are having
- Conduct business checks and form relationships with staff
- Participate in community policing by conducting non-enforcement contact with citizens and attending community events
- Assist other agencies, as needed
- Arrest and lodge suspects
- Testify in court
- Participate in continuous department-wide training
- Available to work nights, weekends, and holidays
Hiring Process
- Apply online here
- Civil Service Exam
- Oral Board Interviews
- Chiefs Interviews
- Complete and submit Personal History Statement within 14 days of receiving
- Background Pre-screen
- Backgrounds Assigned
- Background Investigation and Interview Completed
- Chiefs and Administrative Review
- Recommendations for Hire
- Conditional Offer of Employment
- Physical and Psychological Exam
LATERAl ofFICER
Applicants with at least one year of law enforcement experience have additional benefits when hired with the Grand Rapids Police Department. For salary, a pay step increase will be applied from the first working day at the police department. In addition, officers are typically required to have a year or two of experience on patrol to apply for a specialized unit. However, requirements may be waived with lateral transfers. After 16 weeks of FTO, you may be allowed to apply to a specialized unit.
Pay
| Pay Step | 2022 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |
| POLICE RECRUIT OFFICER (Academy and In-House Training) | $52,321 | $25.15 | $53,367 | $25.66 | $54,168 | $26.04 |
| STEP A (After 6 Months) | $56,824 | $27.32 | $57,960 | $27.87 | $58,830 | $28.28 |
| STEP B (After 1 Year Probation/Lateral 1+ Years of Service) | $69,180 | $33.26 | $70,564 | $33.92 | $71,622 | $34.43 |
| STEP C (After 2 Years/Lateral 2+ Years of Service) | $71,155 | $34.21 | $72,578 | $34.89 | $73,667 | $35.42 |
| STEP D (After 3 Years/Lateral 3+ Years of Service) | $75,458 | $36.28 | $76,967 | $37.00 | $78,122 | $37.56 |
| STEP E (After 4 Years/Lateral 4+ Years of Service) | $79,484 | $38.21 | $81,074 | $38.98 | $82,290 | $39.56 |
| STEP F (After 5 Years/Lateral 5+ Years of Service) | $85,705 | $41.21 | $87,419 | $42.03 | $88,730 | $42.66 |
| SENIOR OFFICER (After 10 Years at GRPD) | $88,275 | $42.44 | $90,041 | $43.29 | $91,391 | $43.94 |
Officers work on a hourly basis
- Any additional hours outside your normal scheduled time are considered overtime
- Patrol officers work 12 hour shifts
- Days: (5:30 am – 5:30 pm / 6:30 am – 6:30 pm)
- Nights: (5:30 pm- 5:30 am / 6:30 pm- 6:30 am)
- Specialty units work 8 and 10 hour shifts; the times for these vary
- Examples of Specialty Unit Assignments: Community Engagement Unit, Detective Unit, K9 Unit (works patrol shift hours), Special Response Team, Traffic Unit, and more
- Examples of Secondary Assignments: Bomb Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Training Instructor, and more
Overtime
- Recorded as time and a half
- Can be taken as pay or comp time
- Numerous opportunities available, including festivals, concerts, sporting events, and patrol shifts
Benefits
Retirement
- Defined Benefit Plan Pension
- 2.0% multiplier, with option to purchase up to a 2.8% multiplier after 6 months of service
(Ex: 2.8% multiplier equals 80% maximum pension benefit at approximately 28.5 years of service)
- ICMA 457 plan option
Insurance
- Health/Vision/Dental/Life (Optional)
Vacation Time
- Start with 80 hours of vacation
- 8 hours accrued for each year, thereafter
(maximum of 200 hours)
Up to 320 hours can carry over from year to year
- 12 paid holidays
Sick Time
- 8 hours of sick time are awarded for each month of service
- An unlimited amount can carry over 1,265 hours sick time counts toward 1 year of pension credit at retirement
Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Up to 80 hours of paid leave
- Does not count against vacation time or sick time
- Training
- 8 week orientation program
- 16 week field training program
- Various refresher and new courses offered throughout year
Health and Wellness Incentives
- Work out facilities available 24/7 to employees.
- Employees can earn up to five additional days of leave per year for participating in Brazilian Jujitsu training off duty.
- Employees can earn up to two additional days of leave per year for maintaining their fitness.
- Fitness & wellness credits can earn you up to $250 additional per year.
- Weekly stretching and mobility classes.
- Nutritionist/personal training 30-60 min session, available weekly.
- Onsite registered nurse health clinic is available weekly.
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Possess good moral character
- Possess good reading and writing skills
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- Have a record clear of any felonies and certain misdemeanors
- Have successfully completed a MCOLES accredited police academy, be a MCOLES Certified Police Officer, or have completed a MCOLES RPTE (Recognition of Prior Training and Experience) class for out of state officers
Job Description
- Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service
- Take criminal and non-criminal reports
- Follow-up and investigate crimes which have occurred
- Conduct proactive enforcement
- Traffic stops
- Directed policing related to area crime
- Canvassing neighborhoods for issues citizens are having
- Conduct business checks and form relationships with staff
- Participate in community policing by conducting non-enforcement contact with citizens and attending community events
- Assist other agencies, as needed
- Arrest and lodge suspects
- Testify in court
- Participate in continuous department-wide training
- Available to work nights, weekends, and holidays
Hiring Process
- Apply online here
- Civil Service Exam
- Oral Board Interviews
- Chiefs Interviews
- Complete and submit Personal History Statement within 14 days of receiving
- Background Pre-screen
- Backgrounds Assigned
- Background Investigation and Interview Completed
- Chiefs and Administrative Review
- Recommendations for Hire
- Conditional Offer of Employment
- Physical and Psychological Exam
Out Of State Applicants
Paid MCOLES Recognition of Prior Training and Experience (RPTE)
A limited group of individuals, who have previous law enforcement training and/or experience, may seek eligibility for Michigan Law Enforcement Licensure through the Recognition of Prior Training and Experience (RPTE) program. A waiver of mandatory basic police training may be granted to a person who was previously a police officer in Michigan, in another state, or to a Michigan pre-service candidate who is seeking additional years of eligibility. Out-of-state candidate applications for the RPTE program will not be accepted unless the candidate has completed at least one year of full-time, fully empowered, paid police service following his/her police training. If you are hired by our department, we will reimburse your cost of the RPTE.
sponsonred police recruit
This position is for those that wish to become full-time police officers for the City of Grand Rapids, but have not yet attended a police academy. We will sponsor you to attend the GRCC or GVSU 17 week Police Academy, while paying you full-time wages and benefits. Upon successful completion of the academy, and in-house GRPD training, you will be sworn in as a Certified Police Officer.
Pay
| Pay Step | 2022 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |
| POLICE RECRUIT OFFICER (Academy and In-House Training) | $52,321 | $25.15 | $53,367 | $25.66 | $54,168 | $26.04 |
| STEP A (After 6 Months) | $56,824 | $27.32 | $57,960 | $27.87 | $58,830 | $28.28 |
| STEP B (After 1 Year Probation/Lateral 1+ Years of Service) | $69,180 | $33.26 | $70,564 | $33.92 | $71,622 | $34.43 |
| STEP C (After 2 Years/Lateral 2+ Years of Service) | $71,155 | $34.21 | $72,578 | $34.89 | $73,667 | $35.42 |
| STEP D (After 3 Years/Lateral 3+ Years of Service) | $75,458 | $36.28 | $76,967 | $37.00 | $78,122 | $37.56 |
| STEP E (After 4 Years/Lateral 4+ Years of Service) | $79,484 | $38.21 | $81,074 | $38.98 | $82,290 | $39.56 |
| STEP F (After 5 Years/Lateral 5+ Years of Service) | $85,705 | $41.21 | $87,419 | $42.03 | $88,730 | $42.66 |
| SENIOR OFFICER (After 10 Years at GRPD) | $88,275 | $42.44 | $90,041 | $43.29 | $91,391 | $43.94 |
Officers work on a hourly basis
- Any additional hours outside your normal scheduled time are considered overtime
- Patrol officers work 12 hour shifts
- Days: (5:30 am – 5:30 pm / 6:30 am – 6:30 pm)
- Nights: (5:30 pm- 5:30 am / 6:30 pm- 6:30 am)
- Specialty units work 8 and 10 hour shifts; the times for these vary
- Examples of Specialty Unit Assignments: Community Engagement Unit, Detective Unit, K9 Unit (works patrol shift hours), Special Response Team, Traffic Unit, and more
- Examples of Secondary Assignments: Bomb Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Training Instructor, and more
Overtime
- Recorded as time and a half
- Can be taken as pay or comp time
- Numerous opportunities available, including festivals, concerts, sporting events, and patrol shifts
Benefits
Retirement
- Defined Benefit Plan Pension
- 2.0% multiplier, with option to purchase up to a 2.8% multiplier after 6 months of service
(Ex: 2.8% multiplier equals 80% maximum pension benefit at approximately 28.5 years of service)
- ICMA 457 plan option
Insurance
- Health/Vision/Dental/Life (Optional)
Vacation Time
- Start with 80 hours of vacation
- 8 hours accrued for each year, thereafter
(maximum of 200 hours)
Up to 320 hours can carry over from year to year
- 12 paid holidays
Sick Time
- 8 hours of sick time are awarded for each month of service
- An unlimited amount can carry over 1,265 hours sick time counts toward 1 year of pension credit at retirement
Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Up to 80 hours of paid leave
- Does not count against vacation time or sick time
Training
- 8 week orientation program
- 16 week field training program
- Various refresher and new courses offered throughout year
Health and Wellness Incentives
- Work out facilities available 24/7 to employees.
- Employees can earn up to five additional days of leave per year for participating in Brazilian Jujitsu training off duty.
- Employees can earn up to two additional days of leave per year for maintaining their fitness.
- Fitness & wellness credits can earn you up to $250 additional per year.
- Weekly stretching and mobility classes.
- Nutritionist/personal training 30-60 min session, available weekly.
- Onsite registered nurse health clinic is available weekly.
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Possess good moral character
- Possess good reading and writing skills
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- Have a record clear of any felonies and certain misdemeanors
Job Description
- Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service
- Take criminal and non-criminal reports
- Follow-up and investigate crimes which have occurred
- Conduct proactive enforcement
- Traffic stops
- Directed policing related to area crime
- Canvassing neighborhoods for issues citizens are having
- Conduct business checks and form relationships with staff
- Participate in community policing by conducting non-enforcement contact with citizens and attending community events
- Assist other agencies, as needed
- Arrest and lodge suspects
- Testify in court
- Participate in continuous department-wide training
- Available to work nights, weekends, and holidays
Hiring Process
- Apply online by contacting a recruiter
- Civil Service Exam
- Background Pre-screen
- Complete MCOLES Physical Agility (has to be within 180 days of academy start but prior to given deadline)
- Complete MCOLES Reading and Writing (can be taken whenever but prior to deadline)
- Oral Board Interviews
- Complete and submit Personal History Statement within 14 days of receiving
- Backgrounds Assigned
- Background Investigation and Interview Completed
- Chiefs Interviews
- Chiefs and Administrative Review
- Recommendations for Hire
- Conditional Offer of Employment
- Physical and Psychological Exam
- Attend GVSU Police Academy Orientation
- Attend, and successfully complete, GVSU Police Academy
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