Oakland Community College’s Oakland Police Academy is offering its first part-time Basic Police Academy beginning January 2024. The part-time academy is being offered for individuals who can’t attend the area’s largest police academy full time. An orientation session is required for interested candidates.
“The demand for police officers continues to be high, but many individuals can’t attend the academy full-time due to job and family commitments,” said David Ceci, OCC’s dean of Public Services and director of Law Enforcement Training. “By offering a part-time academy option, we can train more students to help fill the increased demand for officers in our community and the State of Michigan.”
He said the average pay for police offices in Michigan is $62,600 according to Salary.com. However, many police departments in Metro Detroit pay much higher. For example, the entry level police officers at the Troy, Mich. Police Department start at $73,025 and after six years can earn $88,000. The Canton Township, Mich. Police Department starts officers at $56,855 and the salary increases to $96,268 after four years.
New part-time academy is the only one in Michigan
Ceci said the part-time Police Academy is offered three to four weeknights and every other weekend from Jan. 22 through Sept. 20, 2024. The full-time Police Academy runs five days a week with some weekend classes from Jan. 22 to May 24, 2024. Both academies are held on OCC’s Auburn Hills campus and use the College’s Combined Regional Emergency Services Training (CREST) site, a live police lab setting that is one of the premier training facilities in the nation.
Students who successfully complete the training and pass the state licensing exam are eligible to be a police officer in the State of Michigan.
Program candidates are either self-sponsored or employed by a police agency. The cost of the academy for self-sponsored candidates is $6,600 plus the additional costs of uniforms, appropriate sidearm and duty gear. Those who qualify for Michigan Reconnect, veteran benefits or other financial aid can apply those funds to OCC’s police academy program.
Self-sponsored individuals are also required to pass the State of Michigan’s MCOLES pre-enrollment tests and must have completed a college degree or have enough credits where the additional credits awarded for completing the academy would qualify for a degree. Military police waivers are also available toward degree completion.
To apply to the Oakland Police Academy candidates must attend an orientation session. The next orientations will be Saturday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. and Friday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. in the J- Building on the Auburn Hills campus.
For more information visit OCC Police Academy, email policetraining@oaklandcc.edu or call (248) 232-4227.
About OCC
Oakland Community College offers nearly 100 degrees and certificates programs with the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility in scheduling with face-to-face and online options. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training with expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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