Public Safety Officer (PSO)

Public Safety OfficerPublic Safety Officers (PSOs) protect and serve the community by responding to calls for service involving police, fire, and medical emergencies in a professional and caring manner, to enhance the quality of life for all people in the City of Kalamazoo. KDPS offers a meaningful career that promotes balance between life and career and has opportunities for professional development and advancement through promotion. 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. Desire to be a leader? KDPS has a leadership role for you. Career Advancement: PSOs can advance through the ranks to include Sergeant, Lieutenant, Executive Lieutenant, Captain, Inspector, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, and Chief. KDPS provides training at each level to enhance PSOs leadership abilities. Starting wages listed below are effective January 1, 2026. Starting wages will vary depending on the Recruit's training and experience. Recruits (no experience) and Police Academy Graduates: $55,779.36 + 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): $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. Additionally, military personnel may buy back up to three years of credited service toward a full pension. 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. Defined-Benefit Pension Plan: Recruits are eligible for a normal retirement benefit after 25 years of credited service (4.5% employee contribution). Additional Benefits: Spanish language bonus, longevity payments, shift differential pay (starting at 12 pm), 13 paid holidays, assignment bonuses, and more!Examples of DutiesPSOs 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. Collaborates with the community to solve problems and build trust. Performs any other duty assigned by command or required by policy to further the organizational needs of KDPS.Essential QualificationsApplicants 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 . 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 ExperienceMinimum 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.BenefitsThe City of Kalamazoo offers 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). Benefits vary based on the bargaining unit of a position. The City of Kalamazoo also operates a convenient health clinic that is open to employees, retirees, and their families and provides routine medical services and prescriptions. The benefits for this position are negotiated between the City of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Association (KPSOA). For a summary of City of Kalamazoo benefits in KPSOA positions, please visit our website: Please note: these benefits are subject to change.