Huron-Clinton Metroparks Police officer in park setting

Apply for Huron-Clinton Metroparks Police Officer

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks span 13 individual properties and nearly 25,000 acres of woods, water, and recreational facilities, making them one of the nation’s premier regional park systems.

In this role, and under the supervision of the Chief of Police, District Lieutenant, and Sergeant, your primary responsibilities include patrolling park properties to prevent vandalism, fire, theft, and unsafe conditions. You will work to suppress criminal activity, protect life and property, enforce laws and park regulations, investigate crimes, and apprehend individuals suspected of criminal acts.

You will also assist visitors, providing first aid and general information as needed. Additional duties may include operations, maintenance, and public relations tasks as assigned.

Three Positions Available
  1. Full-Time Police Officer: Western District – Kensington, Indian Springs, Hudson Mills Metroparks
    $72,842 annually / $35.02 per hour plus benefits 
  2. Part-Time Police Officer: Kensington Metropark
    $26.28 per hour plus medical benefits (up to 1,500 hours per year) 
  3. Part-Time Police Officer: Lake Erie Metropark
    $26.28 per hour plus medical benefits (up to 1,500 hours per year)

Applications will be accepted from November 14 through December 31, 2025.

Critical Competencies

  1. Judgment: Employee can independently assess issues and problems effectively.
  2. Confidence: The employee is decisive, confident in their judgment and abilities, able to give clear direction, and holds others accountable.
  3. Organizational Commitment & Integrity: Is a team player committed to advancing the department’s mission and capable of interpreting policy to guide subordinates effectively.
  4. Service Orientation: Demonstrates a commitment to the organization and a willingness to help others by viewing department members and park patrons as customers, following up on issues, and striving for continuous improvement.
  5. Change Management: Understands the need for change, aligns change efforts with organizational needs, and helps others understand and adapt to those changes.
  6. Impact and Influence: Can effectively communicate and educate others.
  7. Developing Employees: Can delegate and motivate employees to solve problems and learn.
  8. Results-Oriented: Is self-directed and motivated.

Essential Duties

The list below is intended to describe the general nature of duties only. Employees are required to perform other duties as assigned.

  • Patrol HCMA property while operating a patrol vehicle, golf cart, motor scooter, bicycle, pick-up truck, watercraft, or on foot in a variety of environmental conditions and over variable terrain.
  • Investigate complaints regarding suspicion of criminal activity, gathering information by interviewing and obtaining statements of victims, witnesses, suspects, and confidential informants.
  • Conduct searches in buildings, open or heavily wooded outdoor areas with even or uneven terrain, beaches, marshes, marinas, and golf courses, both during daylight and darkness.
  • Apprehend persons suspected of violating laws and ordinances, making arrests, forcibly if necessary, using handcuffs and other restraints.  May involve climbing over obstacles, jumping down from elevated surfaces, jumping over obstacles, ditches, and streams, or crawling in confined areas.
  • Render assistance at fire or accident scenes, such as lifting, carrying, or dragging people or heavy objects for distances of up to 150 yards.
  • Prepare investigative and other reports, including sketches, using appropriate grammar, symbols, and mathematical computations.
  • Advise the public on laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations governing the use of park facilities, and provide park visitors with information relevant to park use and points of interest, thereby fostering a positive public relations atmosphere.
  • Controls animal populations to achieve a balance of wildlife and habitat, utilizing control measures in accordance with the HCMA wildlife management plan.

Non-Essential Duties

  • Perform maintenance duties, including but not limited to routine patrol vehicle maintenance, snow removal, the grooming of bike, ski, or nature trails, and other grounds or maintenance duties as skills allow.
  • Perform operational duties, including but not limited to mail deliveries; motor vehicle permit sales; bank transports or escorts; toll gate relief; radio inventory; fire extinguisher inventory; first aid supply inventory; and safety inspections of playground equipment, hike/bike trails, and picnic areas.
  • Perform public relations and school presentations. When requested by other departments, may assist with photography, naturalist functions, nature center programs, and special events.
  • Perform administrative assignments, including but not limited to pre-employment background investigations.

Minimum Qualifications

  • MCOLES Certified Officer or certifiable Police Academy graduate in the State of Michigan.
  • Associate’s Degree or minimum 60 credit hours earned at an accredited school, preferably in criminal justice, park administration, sociology, natural resources, or related field.  (EQUIVALENCE: Two years of related experience may be substituted for each year of college.)
  • Possess a valid State of Michigan motor vehicle license and maintain an acceptable driving record.
  • Unsullied personal life free from crimes of moral turpitude as determined by a criminal history and background investigation.
  • Ability to perform all the essential job functions and typical physical demands unassisted and without delay.
  • Upon offer of employment, satisfactory completion of background check, physical exam to include drug screening, and psychological examination.
  • Free from controlled substances other than those prescribed under a licensed physician’s care.
  • Ability to observe situations analytically and objectively and to react with good independent judgment within legal guidelines.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive relationships with co-workers and the public.
  • Ability to maintain proficiency with the duty firearm in accordance with HCMA rules and regulations.
  • May be required to adjust schedule to meet organizational needs, including special events, evenings, weekends & holidays.
  • Ability to perform essential duties.

General Qualifications

  • Ability to observe situations analytically and objectively, and to react with good independent judgement within legal guidelines.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive relationships with employees and the public.
  • Sensitivity for cultural diversity among employees and park visitors.
  • Knowledge of management functions and law enforcement rules, regulations, and procedures.
  • Familiarity with community policing, police practices, and laws and rules of evidence.
  • Ability to communicate verbally and in written form to prepare necessary reports and records.
  • Ability to supervise and train employees.

      Tools and Equipment Used

      Personal computer including database, scheduling, spreadsheet, and word processing software; calculator, copy & fax machines, weapons and other police related equipment, phone, radios, patrol vehicle, all-terrain vehicles, golf cart, motor scooter, bicycle, pick-up truck, watercraft, and/or snowmobile.

      Physical Demands

      The physical demands described are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job.

      • Frequently required to stand and walk for extended periods.

      • Routinely required to see, talk, and hear, with corrected vision and hearing within the normal range.

      • Specific vision abilities needed include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

      • Frequently required to use hands to handle, feel, and operate objects, tools, or controls, and to reach with hands and arms.

      • Occasionally required to run, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, and crouch.

      • Must have a full range of body motion, including handling and lifting perpetrators, often in confrontational situations.

      • Occasionally must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

      • Occasionally, must drag heavy objects and/or people weighing up to 150 pounds.

      Work Environment

      The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

      • May work under stressful conditions and irregular work hours.

      • Frequently works outdoors in varying weather conditions.

      • May be exposed to cold, heat, wet, and/or humid weather.

      • May be exposed to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, chemicals, animals, foliage, and vegetation.

      • Noise level is usually quiet in the office.

      • Noise level may be moderately loud when working in the field.

      How to Apply for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Police Officer Position

      If you are interested in and wish to be considered for a position with the Metroparks Police Department, please apply online. The application deadline is Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

      For More Information

      For questions about the position, please contact Holly Bialczak by phone at (810) 494-6024 or email at [email protected]. Additionally, you can call the Metroparks Police Department at (810) 227-8910 or visit 13000 High Ridge Drive, Brighton, MI.

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