Description/Distinguishing Features
*THIS POSTING IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY*
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1. Select "Menu" (top left corner)
2. Select "Job Descriptions and Subscribe to Email Job Alerts"
3. In Search bar, enter "Public Safety Officer"
4. Select Public Safety Officer (PSO)(PO-02)
5. Select green Subscribe button (top right corner)
6. Enter your first/last name and email address
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Seeking a career that leaves room for life? KDPS has a schedule for you.
Balance Life and Career: PSOs assigned to patrol work 12-hour shifts. During a 28-day rotation, PSOs are scheduled to work 14 days and have 14 days off. Our unique schedule encourages a healthy balance between life and career with ample time off. Workdays vary during a 28-day rotation, creating two weekends off every month and a run of seven days off in a row, starting on a Friday. This stretch of days commonly referred to as the ‘7-day’ allows PSOs to reset, take a trip, or complete a project every month.
Have a special skill or interest? KDPS has a specialty assignment for you.
Professional Development: KDPS offers one badge, but endless career opportunities. PSOs can pursue more than forty professional growth tracks to include: Aviation Unit, Bike Response Unit, Bomb Squad, Crime Reduction Team, Crisis Negotiator, Community Police Officer, Community Service Team, Court Officer, Crowd Management Team, Detective, Equipment Operator, Explorer Advisor, Field Training Officer, Fifth District Technical Team, Fire Marshal, Hazmat Team, Honor Guard, K9 Team, KVET (Drug) Investigator, Lab Specialist/Technician, Motorcycle Unit, Peer Fitness Trainer, Peer Support Team, Pipe and Drum Unit, Polygraph Examiner, Recruiter, School Resource Officer, Strategic Planner, SWAT Team, Task Force Officer (ATF, DEA, FBI), Traffic Unit, Training Officer, and Technical Rescue Team.
Starting wages listed below are effective January 1, 2025. Starting wages will vary depending on the Recruit’s training and experience. **As of 1/1/2025, Public Safety Officer top pay is $92,907.36
Recruits (no experience) and Police Academy Graduates: $53,093.04+ overtime opportunities
Experienced Police Officers (full or part time/MCOLES certified or able to be certified through RPTE program) and/or Fire Fighter I & II (full time and licensed MFR):
$59,426.64 (less than 1 year of service)
$62,877.36 (1 year to less than 2 years of service)
$65,872.08 (2 years to less than 3 years of service)
$68,708.64 (3 years or more of completed service)
Examples of Duties
PSOs perform a wide range of duties specifically related to providing police, fire, and medical services in the City of Kalamazoo. Some of the duties are listed below. However, the list is not exhaustive of every duty that a PSO may be required to perform:
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.
Essential Qualifications
Applicants must be 21 years old, possess Character Fitness (good moral character), have a valid driver's license, be a U.S. citizen, and meet all MCOLES licensing requirements found at https://www.michigan.gov/mcoles/standard-training/licensing-standards-for-michigan-law-enforcement-officers .
Applicants must pass each step of the KDPS hiring process which includes:
Initial Application/Questionnaire
MCOLES Testing
Initial Interview
Background Investigation
Chiefs’ Interview
Psychological/Medical/Drug Screening
Applicants must qualify for and be able to obtain all basic academy training certifications provided by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, the Firefighters Training Council, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Applicants must qualify for and maintain licensure with the governing body for each discipline: Police (MCOLES), Fire (Bureau of Fire Services), and EMS (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services).
Acceptable Training and Experience
Minimum of High School Diploma; Associate or higher preferred, or any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the essential knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the functions of the job.
The City of Kalamazoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization where different perspectives and experiences are welcomed and encouraged. Studies have shown that women and people of color, are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications listed. The City of Kalamazoo is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it. This approach will give each current and potential employee the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute to the City of Kalamazoo.
