Help with becoming a police officer in the Metro Detroit area?

Question

i have been talking to a lot of people that are retired police officers or current ones, and i ask them what i should do and they say i have to get certified, i never remember to ask them what i need to get certified for, but they say that i need to get certified so i can move from police station to police station, and not stay in one place. so could someone please help me with what i need to get certified for, and where i could do it, also where is a good place to go to college in Michigan to become a police officer.

any help is appreciated thanks

Answer 1

They are correct, you need to get certified or at least be certifiable (you get the required education & pass the state MCOLES test giving you the ability to get certified & then an actual department has to certify you--usually after they hire you).  Typically, in order to be certifiable, you need to first get an Associate's Degree in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice or something similar.  Then you need to attend a state-sanctioned Police Academy.  If you pass everything at the Police Academy you'll take the MCOLES certification test at which point you'll be eligible for certification.  Then you hunt for a job (good luck with that, given the current economic woes of the state) & when you land one, the hiring department will certify you.  Once you're close to completing the Police Academy, you could take a multi-department test in the Metro Detroit area which many of the local departments use for screening potential officers.  As to good places to go to college in Michigan to become a police officer, probably any of them would do.  It might not be a bad idea, however, to attend a college that also hosts a Police Academy (such as Northern Michigan University) since the transition from college to Academy would be easier that way.

Depending on your background, there may be some ways to streamline the process (for example, my husband was in the Military Police for 5 years so they waived the Associate's Degree requirement to get into the Police Academy), but the typical scenario is outlined above.

A listing of MCOLES-approved Police Academies can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/mcoles/0,1607,7-...

Answer 2

You should check with the closest community college in your area. Tell them that you want to become involved in law enforcement, and ask what classes would be necessary.

good luck

Answer 3

I would suggest finding a college that suits you, and obtaining a four year degree. A two year degree will also benefit you, but the more education that you have, the better. Just make sure that the college is accredited. Choose a major that interests you, but that would also be useful for police work. Criminal justice, accounting, psychology, a foreign language, and computer science are good examples. There are colleges in Michigan that offer the certification you are referring to. Some examples are Delta College, Kellogg Community College, Northwestern Michigan College, Kirtland Community College, Lake Superior State University, and Grand Rapids Community College. Check out http://www.peaceofficerjobs.com for excellent information and advice about becoming a police officer.