Questions Answered
Yes, at each step of the process you will be sent an e-mail which will tell you if you are going to move on to the next step or if you have been disqualified. If you don’t see this e-mail in your inbox, please check your spam and junk boxes. If you still have not been contacted, please call our Human Resources at 616-456-3176.
You need at least a 70% to pass the civil service exam.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of the application.
No, we will not make copies after it has been turned in. We encourage you to make copies prior to turning in the background investigation questionnaire.
Out of state applicants will have to make 2-4 trips to Grand Rapids depending on circumstances. We may be able to make accommodations to lessen this with proper notice.
The hiring process can take approximately 3-6 months depending on when you take the civil service exam and if you apply for the sponsorship or certified officer process.
If you are disqualified, you must wait until the next open process to reapply. You will begin with the online application. The civil service exam is valid for one year.
You should dress appropriately in a suit or business attire, to all interviews or meetings with recruiting staff. The wearing of cut-off shirts, shorts, torn or faded clothing, gym attire, flip flops, or sandals does not display the professional appearance we look for in our applicants. Athletic attire should only be worn to MCOLES agility testing as this is when the physical fitness test is conducted.
Honesty and integrity are important values found in Grand Rapids police officers. If you are found omitting important information or are found to be deceptive at any point throughout the hiring process, you will be disqualified. All applicants must successfully complete a background investigation in order to continue in the hiring process.
No, the City of Grand Rapids does not have a residency requirement. However, the City does offer incentives to reside in the city through the City Employee Home Ownership Incentive. If you are already a resident of Grand Rapids, the incentive amount is $6,000 towards the purchase of a home. If you live outside of the city limits (non-resident), the incentive amount is $7,000 towards the purchase of a home. There is a $2,500 additional incentive for 1st time home buyers applies to both residents and non-residents on top of the $6,000 or $7,000 incentive. Additional information on this program can be found at www.grandrapidsmi.gov.
Yes. The GRPD Ride Along Program is designed to give citizens a first-hand view of police work in Grand Rapids, MI. After completing an application, you will be paired with a patrol officer in a marked vehicle and will observe as he or she responds to calls for service. This is one of the best ways to learn if police work is right for you.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to participate in the program prior to applying, if possible. All police officer candidates must complete a ride along with an officer as a part of the hiring process. Any citizen or applicant wishing to participate in the program can obtain information by contacting the Community Engagement Unit at 616-456-3301.
Yes, officers may have tattoos except for on the hands, neck, face, and scalp. The content of the tattoos cannot be unprofessional or offensive in nature. Some examples of unacceptable content are nudity, violence, sexually explicit, profane, or vulgar words, phrases, or art. Content cannot contain symbols that are likely to incite a strong negative reaction. Examples include initials, symbols, numbers, or acronyms that represent criminal or historically oppressive organizations.
If withdrawing or you are going to miss a testing date, please contact Human Resources or the Community Engagement Unit with your name and reason.
Human Resources
616-456-3176
Community Engagement Unit
616-456-3301
No. Recruits do not have to live at the police academy. Work hours are typically Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. There are several training sessions throughout the academy; however, that will require evenings and/or weekends depending on the lesson plan or project being completed. You typically work an average of 40 hours a week while in the academy. However, they may be longer at times.
No. Waivers are not allowed at any time.
An applicant’s entire driving record is reviewed, with the last five years being the most critical. However, the following are automatic disqualifiers: Operating While Intoxicated 2nd, no license, license currently suspended or revoked, loss of driving privilege through suspension or revocation of license for unsatisfactory driving within the last 2 years, accumulated more than 8 points on driving record within the last 2 years, and conviction of driving while license suspended/revoked within the last 4 years.
Drug use is not automatically a disqualifier. Disqualification timeframes depend on many factors including the substance used, age at time of use, and frequency of use. For specific questions, please contact the Community Engagement Unit. Below are a list of some of the disqualifiers for drugs:
Selling of marijuana
Possession of a controlled substance or dangerous drugs
Using a controlled substance or dangerous drug
Selling a controlled substance or dangerous drugs
- Failure to answer every question in the Personal History Statement.
- Failure to meet application process deadlines.
- Failure to pass the Medical screening (including hearing and eyesight), Psychological screening, and Drug Test screening.
- Making false statements and being deceptive by statement or omission in the hiring and selection process.
- Failure to keep appointment(s) or provide documentation related to the hiring process.
- Failure to meet Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) licensing standards for Michigan Law Enforcement Officers.
Once hired as a full-time employee, full health, vision, and dental coverage starts immediately for you and your family. GRPD offers a Defined Benefit Plan Pension, a fully funded pension for tenured officers. New officers start with a 2.0% multiplier, with the option to purchase up to a 2.8% multiplier. New employees starts with 80 hours of vacation, 8 hours accrued for each year, thereafter (maximum of 200 hours), up to 40 days of vacation can carry over from year to year with 12 paid holidays. Maternity/Paternity Leave, up to 80 hours of paid leave. 8 hours of sick time are awarded for each month of service. An unlimited amount can carry over year to year. 1,265 hours of sick time counts toward 1 year of pension credit at retirement.
Applicants with at least one year of law enforcement experience have additional benefits when hired with the Grand Rapids Police Department. You start at our pay step consistent with your years of service from your previous law enforcement employment. 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.
No, if you have completed one year of full-time and fully empowered paid police service following your police training. Out of state lateral transfers must complete the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) Recognition of Prior Training and Experience (RPTE) class in order to be licensed in the State of Michigan. If you are successfully hired by GRPD, you will be reimbursed for the costs of this class. You will need to complete this class to satisfy the Conditional Offer of Employment. For more information you may contact the Community Engagement Unit at 616-456-3301 or visit www.michigan.gov/mcoles.
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