Detroit is the largest city in Michigan with a population of over 640,000.1 The Detroit Police Department (DPD) is the largest sworn law enforcement agency in the state, with more than 2,500 officers responsible for patrolling nearly 140 square miles of territory.2 Information on the application, selection, and training process to join the DPD as an entry-level or lateral officer is below.

Detroit Police Officer Requirements

To join the DPD, candidates must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a US citizen
  • Hold a valid driver’s license
  • Have a high school diploma or GED from an accredited institution
  • Have no felony convictions

After confirming they meet these criteria, applicants submit an application and undergo a criminal history check. Candidates then complete the MCOLES Pre-Employment Reading and Writing Test and the MCOLES Physical Fitness Test, both of which DPD currently offers free of charge to its candidates. Applicants who pass the MCOLES exams attend an application orientation, then progress through a background investigation, an oral board interview, written and oral psychological evaluations, and a medical examination. Successful candidates receive a conditional offer of employment and a slot in an upcoming academy class.

For more information about becoming a law enforcement officer in a big city like Detroit, check out 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our home page. For full hiring details and to apply, visit the DPD Careers page.

Detroit Police Academy

All DPD recruits complete the Detroit Police Academy, a paid 26-week (six-month) program in which trainees are hired as full-time City of Detroit employees and receive medical benefits beginning on day one.2 The curriculum covers the seven core topic areas required for Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification: administrative procedures, investigations, patrol procedures, detention and prosecution, police skills, traffic enforcement, and special operations. Michigan requires a minimum of 594 training hours for MCOLES certification, which recruits earn during the academy before being sworn in and assigned to patrol.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

During the academy, recruits work full time for the City of Detroit at a starting hourly base rate just under $21.2 After graduation and swearing-in, officers move onto the rank-based pay scale below. Officers can supplement their base earnings through overtime, holiday pay, an education incentive, secondary employment opportunities, and other specialty differentials.

RankAnnual Base Salary*Monthly Base*
Police Officer$45,760-$68,640$3,813-$5,720
Corporal$62,400-$66,560$5,200-$5,547
Detective$62,400-$66,560$5,200-$5,547
Sergeant$74,880-$76,960$6,240-$6,413
Lieutenant$83,200-$87,360$6,933-$7,280

*Annual and monthly figures are derived from DPD’s published hourly base rates at 2,080 working hours per year (40 hours per week multiplied by 52 weeks).

Officers receive medical, dental, and optical benefit options, 160 hours of paid time off, bonus vacation days, and a $1,100 annual uniform allowance.2 A 2% education incentive is added to base pay for officers who complete 60 or more college credit hours, and the department offers up to $2,000 per year in tuition reimbursement. Retirement benefits include a defined-benefit pension plan with a 20-year minimum service requirement and a 401(k) deferred compensation plan; pension benefits vest at 10 years of service.2

In Michigan, employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to decline approximately 2% from 2022 to 2032 (compared to a roughly 3% national growth rate over a similar period), with approximately 1,290 openings projected each year on average, according to Projections Central.3 The number of officers DPD hires in any given year also depends on retirements, attrition, and the city’s public safety budget.

Find open Detroit police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at DPD

All Detroit officers begin their careers in patrol assignments. Promotion to Corporal, Detective, or Sergeant becomes available after a minimum of two years of service for officers who hold a bachelor’s degree, with the Sergeant rank requiring a competitive promotional exam.2 Lieutenant follows from the Sergeant rank, while the senior ranks of Captain, Commander, and Deputy Chief are appointed by the Chief of Police rather than reached through a competitive process. As the salary table above shows, base pay rises substantially with each promotion — before any longevity, education, or specialty differentials are layered on top of the base rate.

Cities and Police Departments Near Detroit

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 7,590 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area, with a mean annual wage of $75,280 as of May 2024.4 Officers seeking work outside the city of Detroit can also explore opportunities with the Canton Police Department, the Dearborn Police Department, the Livonia Police Department, the Sterling Heights Police Department, and the Warren Police Department. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Michigan page.

Additional Resources

Detroit Police Department Contact

1. US Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Detroit city, Michigan: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/detroitcitymichigan/PST045224
2. Detroit Police Department Careers, City of Detroit: https://detroitmi.gov/departments/police-department/detroit-police-department-careers
3. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, Michigan: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2024/may/oes_19820.htm