Police Officer - Lateral or New Hire

If you are looking to make a difference in your community and want to see the results of your hard work, come join us at the Coldwater Police Department. We are an accredited agency serving a city with a population of 13,894 residents in south-central Michigan. We employ 22-sworn officers and 5 support staff. This is the perfect size department for an officer who wants to stay busy, and a small enough community that you will be able to see the impact of your work on the people you help. As a Coldwater Police Officer, you have an opportunity to make a difference. Are you looking for a department to grow with? We train our officers to become experts in fields such as drug enforcement, K-9, crime scene investigation, school resource officer, etc. If you want to be involved in training the next generation of police officers, you can become an FTO. We also have roles for instructors in firearms, defensive tactics, Taser, de-escalation techniques, etc. What We Are Looking For Teamwork. We are looking for people who are willing to help one another. Integrity. Doing the right thing when nobody is watching. Character. A high level of mental, ethical, and moral qualities. Reliable. Consistently good in quality. Highly trusted. Effort: A strong desire to compete and work on getting better every day. Licensed police officer, or the ability to attain a license from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Officers must live within 25-miles of the City of Coldwater within one-year of hire. What We Offer The starting base pay for new officers is $66,393.60 annual ($31.92/hour). Lateral Pay - Prior service as a full-time licensed Police Officer can increase your starting base pay up to $73,569. An individual who is not currently licensed may be hired and sent to the Police Academy. The recruit will be paid a training wage, food allowance and access to a vehicle during the academy. College reimbursement program available for continued education. Holiday pay ($2,830 annually). College incentive (up to $500 annually). Longevity pay (percentage of wages beginning at five years). Overtime opportunities are routinely available to increase earnings. Industry leading MERS Defined Contribution (DC) retirement plan with 21.5% contribution (14% City / 7.5% Employee). Deferred Compensation plans are available. Health insurance available date of hire. Self-funded dental coverage. Vision insurance for employee. Life Insurance and AD&D coverage. Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance. Relaxed facial hair and tattoo policies. External vest carriers. 12-hour shifts. Well-maintained in-house gym. Wellness benefit (City pays 50% of outside gym membership). The City operates a very active Recreation Department offering both adult and children leagues (i.e. softball, basketball, volleyball, pickleball and much more) with free employee access to the indoor running / walking track. Area recreational opportunities include golf, boating, hunting and fishing. How To Apply Contact the Coldwater Police Department records staff at to obtain an application packet. Submit the application and resume to Tina Taylor at no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27 2026. For questions, contact Tina Taylor at (517) 278-4525. The City of Coldwater is an Equal Opportunity employer.

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