ANN ARBOR POLICE SERVICE SPECIALIST CADET
The Ann Arbor Police Department is looking for qualified Police Service Specialist Cadets with a long-term goal of becoming Police Officers.
The Ann Arbor Police Department is a full-service department with many services and divisions. These include a detective section, traffic services unit, K9, motorcycle and bicycle patrols, and a community engagement unit that includes many programs and volunteer opportunities. Additional opportunities exist to join the Metro SWAT team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Metro Underwater Search and Rescue Team, or numerous training cadres. They are committed to a community-oriented policing philosophy and strive for a high level of community engagement. We embrace the values of continual learning, working collaboratively with the community and city, recognizing our successes, and being a team, while prioritizing impartiality and fairness in all circumstances.
The Vision of the Ann Arbor Police Department is to be a national model for earning trust within the community, safeguarding life, and promoting public safety through community policing.
The purpose of this position is to hire PSS Cadets on a limited time basis, with the intention that they will attend a police academy and become Ann Arbor Police Officers upon successful completion of the academy. The PSS Cadet position gives applicants a great insight into what working for the AAPD is like, prior to becoming an Ann Arbor Police Officer.
The PSS Cadet Program is for non-licensed (pre-academy) applicants. The person who is selected for this position will have an evaluation period for a maximum of 12 months. During this time the PSS Cadet will work the Police front desk and be responsible for interacting with the public, conduct preliminary investigations for reports, complete traffic crash reports, administer preliminary breath test, fingerprint and photograph arrestees/defendants for court.
Upon the successful completion of the assimilation period the PSS Cadet will attend a regional police academy. The City will cover the cost for the academy tuition and all associated academy-related costs, excluding room/board and food. Upon successful completion of this academy, the PSS Cadet will be hired into an entry-level police officer position and must successfully complete the AAPD’s field training officer program.
Salary will bump up as soon as the candidate graduates the police academy.
Job Description
Police Service Specialist Cadets perform support duties that assist police personnel, officers, and the Ann Arbor community where sworn police authority is not required.
Primary responsibilities include assignments at the Police Department front desk, including:
- Interacting professionally with the public
- Answering telephones and providing general information
- Conducting preliminary investigations for reports
- Completing traffic crash reports
- Administering preliminary breath tests
- Fingerprinting volunteers, employees, arrestees, and defendants (as assigned)
- Photographing arrestees and defendants (as assigned)
- Processing court-related documentation and retail fraud paperwork
The evaluation and assimilation period may last up to 12 months and may include evenings and weekends.
Salary: $18.73 per hour (Salary increases upon graduation from the police academy.)
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential duties of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties. Positions in this class typically require driving, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Per the licensing requirements of the position, employees must meet all of the physical requirements of the police officer position 60 days before starting the academy. In addition to the above physical requirements, the position will also require climbing, running, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and jumping.
Move and lift light objects less than 20 pounds, such as mail, files, and supplies. Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements. The ability to remain in a sitting position for extended periods of time.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee may meet to perform the essential duties of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.
Additional information on licensing standards concerning prohibited criminal adjudications of guilt, psychological fitness, hearing, vision, physical abilities and other requirements can be located on the MCOLES Licensing Standards for Michigan Law Enforcement Officers page.
Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Must have a valid Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record.
- If hired, the candidate must be 21 years or older at the start of the FTO program (10 months from the hire date).
- 45 credit hours or above from an accredited college.
Benefits
Cadets are governed by the PSS Collective Bargaining Agreement regarding all benefits (including parking) and paid time off. PSS Cadets will not pay union dues and are represented only by the union for wages and benefits. The information below is from the current PSS union contract and is subject to change per union negotiations.
- Medical/dental/vision/prescription drug plans are available after 90 days of employment.
- Defined benefit pension plan.
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave (after six months of employment).
- Holiday incentives for 16 city-recognized holidays.
- Educational incentives after one year.
- Ongoing commitment to internal and external training opportunities.
- Short-term and long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance.
- Flexible spending account.
- Wellness incentive programs.
- Employee assistance program.
Find additional information and a summary of this position’s benefits here. *Upon completion of the police academy, these benefits will change per the AAPOA collective bargaining agreement.
How To Apply
Interested applicants must apply online for consideration. Only completed applications will be considered to move to the next hiring process step. You will be able to see the status of your application when you log in to our website. Please forward the link to any interested candidates. The application deadline is Friday, October 30, 2026.
For More Information
For questions and comments about the Police Service Specialist Cadet position, please contact Sergeant Scott by phone at (734) 794-6956 or email at [email protected]; The Ann Arbor Police Department is located at 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. For additional information, please visit the Ann Arbor Police Department’s website.
About Ann Arbor Police Department
The Ann Arbor Police Department is a full-service department with many services and divisions. These include a detective section, traffic services unit, K9, motorcycle and bicycle patrols, and a community engagement unit that includes many programs and volunteer opportunities.
Additional opportunities exist to join the Metro SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Metro Underwater Search and Rescue Team, or numerous training cadres.
The department is committed to a community-oriented policing philosophy and strives for a high level of community engagement. We embrace the values of continual learning, working collaboratively with the community and city, recognizing our successes, and being a team while prioritizing impartiality and fairness in all circumstances.
The Vision of the Ann Arbor Police Department is to be a national model for earning trust within the community, safeguarding life, and promoting public safety through community policing.