Public Safety Officer (PSO) - CERTIFIED PROCESS ONLY (67A*)

Description/Distinguishing Features

We will ONLY accept applications from CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS and/or those who are FULL-TIME CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTER I & II AND LICENSED MFR.

• Starting wages listed below are effective January 1, 2026.
  • Recruits (no experience): $55,779.36+ overtime opportunities
  • Experienced Police Officers (full Or Part Time/MCOLES Certified Or Able To Be Certified Through RPTE Program): $62,418.72 (less than 1 year of service)
  • $66,066.00 (1 year to less than 2 years of service)
  • $69,101.76 (2 years to less than 3 years of service)
  • $72,181.20 (3 years or more of completed service)

Paid to Train: From the date of hire, Recruits are paid fulltime hourly wages to attend all basic training including the Police Academy, Fire Academy, MFR Academy, Advanced Police Academy, and Field Training Officer Program. All tuition, fees, uniforms, and equipment are provided/paid for by KDPS. Additional training for future assignments is also provided from KDPS staff and outside vendors.

Residency Bonus: Recruits receive an annual $5,000 residency bonus for living within the City of Kalamazoo; Restrictions apply.

Military On-the-Job Training Benefits: Military on-the-job training benefits are available while attending the Police Academy, Fire Academy, MFR Academy, Advanced Police Academy, and Field Training.

Student Loan Forgiveness Program: KDPS is an eligible employer for the federal student loan forgiveness program.

Lateral Transfer Hiring Bonus: Certified police officers and fulltime firefighters with MFR licensure are eligible for a $15,000 lateral transfer hiring incentive. KDPS also allows reciprocal service time under Public Act 88.

Essential Qualifications

• At least 21 years old
• Character Fitness (good moral character)
• Valid driver's license
• U.S. citizen
• Meet all MCOLES licensing requirements found at https://www.michigan.gov/mcoles/standard-training/licensing-standards-for-michigan-law-enforcement-officers

Duties Required

Responds to calls for service that require police, fire, or medically trained professionals.

• Police: Patrols an assigned zone, responds to calls for service to include high risk situations and those involving mental health crisis, enforces traffic laws, conducts criminal investigations, and makes lawful arrests.
• Fire: Responds to working fires, investigates fire alarms and smoke, provides vehicle extrication, conducts traffic control during vehicle crash investigations, and mitigates hazardous material incidents.
• Medical: Responds to medical calls for service including heart attacks and trauma, assists advanced life support services in rendering medical care, renders CPR and other lifesaving medical interventions as needed, and monitors patient status during the course of care.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, group life insurance, long and short-term disability, paid time off, a defined benefits pension plan, a 457 deferred compensation plan, and a retirement health care savings plan (HCSP).
• The benefits for this position are negotiated between the City of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Association (KPSOA).