Sponsored Police Recruit

This recruitment process is for the selection of candidates to be hired by the City of Grand Rapids in January, at which time selected candidates will be sponsored to attend a designated Police Academy.  A mandatory Police Academy Orientation at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), will be held on January 8, 2026. You must be available for the orientation and entire training academy and pass the MCOLES State Licensing Exam for Police Officers at the end of the academy.

If selected, you will be a paid City of Grand Rapids Police Department employee from the start of the Academy in January 2026 with the expectation that your employment will continue after academy graduation and passing the licensing exam, which would result in promotion to the Police Officer classification.

Grand Rapids Police Officers respond to emergency calls for service on a 24-hour a day basis. These positions perform duties that deter crime, respond to citizen calls for service, protects property, and resolves conflicts between different people.  Officers interact with the public on a daily basis.

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to obtain a Michigan's Driver's license by date of hire.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Some experience involving communicating with people under varying circumstances.
• Ability to pass a background investigation 
• Ability to meet MCOLES requirements. (Download PDF reader) Please review the requirements HERE (Download PDF reader).

• Pass MCOLES Reading and Writing Exam
• Pass MCOLES Physical Fitness pre-employment examinations within 180 days of starting a Police Academy
• Other MCOLES minimum requirements reference the following standards:  Physical Ability, Hearing standards, Psychological Fitness, Vision/Color standards, Training requirements, Licensing Exam, Fingerprinting, Oral Interview and drug testing (http://www.michigan.gov/mcoles)

• Application:  Must apply by June 13, 2025
• City of Grand Rapids Entrance Exam: June 23 & 25, 2025  (Virtual: June 25, 2025)  Candidates residing 250 or more miles away will be offered a virtual test 
  • National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory (cognitive/integrity)
  • Study guides are available at GR Public Libraries or for purchase (New Study Guide Link)
• Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES Tests): 
  • Physical Fitness Test information HERE
    • Must be taken after July 9, 2025 & results submitted by August 18, 2025 .
  • Reading and Writing Test information can be found HERE. 
    • Can be taken at any time, results must be submitted by August 18, 2025
• Personal History Questionnaire: You will receive an invitation from Guardian to create account and initiate the process. 14 days to complete.
• Personal History Questionnaire Due Date: July 31, 2025
• Oral Exams:  July 15 & 16, 2025@ City Hall   July 17, 2025 (Virtual)
• Academy Orientation  (Mandatory):  January 8, 2026
• Police Academy begins: January 12, 2026