How to become a police officer in Michigan
In Michigan, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) sets the statewide standards; the credential is Law Enforcement Officer License (MCOLES). At the Detroit Police Department, new hires start at $62,003 a year, rising to $85,401 after about 5 years. You must be at least 18.
Pay at the Detroit Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Detroit Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $62,003 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $85,401 |
| Years to top | 5 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
Detroit FY27 police officer schedule, five annual steps.
Source:[detroitmi.gov]
Pay for this work across Michigan
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Michigan, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 16,750 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $47,780 |
| Median pay | $73,730 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $89,220 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school diploma or passing GED score (an associate or bachelor's degree also meets the standard)
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Minimum age is set by the employing agency but may not be less than 18
- No prior felony convictions, or felony expungements and set asides
- Good moral character per a comprehensive background investigation (PPOs and traffic/conservation violations are considered)
- Valid driver's or chauffeur's license from a U.S. state, DC, U.S. territory or Canada; Michigan driving privileges not suspended, revoked or denied
- Pass the commission's reading and writing examination
- Test negative for illicit controlled substances (a positive test or refusal bars training or licensing for 2 years)
- Medical standards (R 28.14204): far and near acuity 20/20 in each eye (corrected allowed), normal color vision, peripheral and binocular vision, plus other physician-determined standards
- Fingerprinting for academy admission; psychological fitness is a licensing standard under MCL 28.609
- Pass the MCOLES licensing examination within 1 year of completing training (1 retest allowed)
Source:[law.cornell.edu]
Hiring process
- MCOLES reading and writing examination
- MCOLES physical fitness performance examination
- Fingerprinting and background investigation
- Drug screen
- Medical examination (vision, hearing, physician exam)
- Psychological fitness evaluation
- Basic law enforcement academy (615 hours minimum)
- MCOLES licensing examination
- Employment by a law enforcement agency and licensure
Source:[legislature.mi.gov]
Entrance exam
MCOLES Licensing Examination. Taken after completing the basic course; must be passed within 1 year of training completion, with 1 retest allowed in that year; failing the retest means repeating the basic course (R 28.14203(j)). A separate MCOLES reading and writing examination is required before academy entry.[law.cornell.edu]
Required training
615 hours minimum. MCOLES 2026 Basic Training Manual: Table of Contents - (615 Hours); all academies must teach at least this curriculum.[michigan.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit (Component I hybrid plan)
- Benefit formula: 2% of Average Final Compensation x years of Credited Service earned after June 30, 2014 (Sec. 6.1)
- When you can retire: Normal Retirement Age: age 50 with 25 years of Credited Service (FY 2021 and thereafter). Deferred vested: 10+ years of vesting service, unreduced at 62 or actuarially reduced from 55
No single statewide plan covers Michigan local police (MERS is optional per municipality), so this is the Detroit plan. Source is the Combined Plan Document effective July 1, 2014; later amendments not checked. Board may grant a 1.0% annual escalator.
Source:[detroitmi.gov]