Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety

KDPS | City of Kalamazoo Police & Fire

Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-Emergency: (269) 488-8911
General Information: (269) 337-8120
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You are here: Home / About / Employment / Hiring Process

Hiring Process

Applicant should complete a “Job Interest Card.” Interest cards are kept on file for 1 year and will send out a mass email when a hiring process has opened up.

KDPS Hiring Process Steps (Download PDF)

RECRUIT

  • Established Events (colleges/job fairs)
  • Coffee socials
  • Block parties
  • Community events
  • Churches/church flyers
  • High schools/colleges
  • WebEx Q&A sessions
  • Education for Employment
  • Yard signs
  • KDPS Explorers
  • Previous applicants
  • Metro Bus advertising
  • Michigan Works!
  • Billboard advertising
  • Job Interest Cards
  • Word of Mouth
  • Kalamazoo Promise graduates
  • Social media
  • Paid advertising
  • City of Kalamazoo water bill
  • Many more
    ↓

PREPARE

  • Online practice tests (available free for City of Kalamazoo residents)
  • Online videos (fire agility/other steps)
  • MCOLES testing opportunities
  • Tips for Success powerpoint
  • 1-on-1 meetings with recruiters
  • WebEx Q&A sessions
    ↓

APPLY

  • Application period opens
  • NeoGov online application to include background questions for screening for MCOLES compliance
    ↓

WRITTEN TEST

  • Invited to written test upon review of application and background questions
  • Test prep session provided prior to test (virtual)
    ↓

BACKGROUND PACKET

  • Upon passing the written test, applicants will be emailed a background packet
  • Applicants must follow the specific instructions provided
  • Extensive information requested, to include: previous education, residences, employers, references, military, driving and criminal history
    ↓

BACKGROUND SCREENING

  • Each background packet is screened to determine minimum qualifications met
  • Screening will determine City of Kalamazoo residence, urban experience, military service, prior police-fire-EMS training, KDPS Explorer
    ↓

FIRST INTERVIEW & AGILITY TEST

  • Eligible candidates are invited to interview and complete agility test
  • Both processess are completed in the same day
  • Interview is scored by HR-monitored panel
  • PSO Agility Test is pass/fail (police and fire components)
    ↓

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

  • Applicants assigned to a background investigator
  • 3-4 week process
  • MUST pass MCOLES written & physical exam prior to completion of investigation
  • Must complete 12-hour ride-along with community participation event
    ↓

FINAL CHIEFS’ INTERVIEW

  • All candidates passing the background investigation and MCOLES requirements are invited to interview
  • No point score assigned; Chief may select from entire pool upon completion of interview
    ↓

OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

  • Employment offers are conditional upon passing, physical exam, psycholgical exam and drug screening
  • Continued employment upon successful completion of fire academy, police academy, and MFR test
    ↓

TRAINING

  • 10-week fire academy
  • 10-16 week Field Training Officer (FTO)
  • 3-week Medical First Responder (MFR) training and test
  • 15-17 week MCOLES police academy
  • 3-week KDPS Advanced Academy
  • 1-year probationary period (additional length if attending police academy)

About

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Contact Us

150 E Crosstown Pkwy, Suite A
Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-Emergency: (269) 488-8911
General Information: (269) 337-8120

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