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Police Academy

Certificate of Achievement

Program Overview

January 2025 marks our 116th police academy! Since our origin in 1967, we've trained hundreds of officers. Our 17-week training program is approved by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). Cadets completing our academy and passing the MCOLES State Examination are eligible for certification as law enforcement officers in Michigan.

We provide the training (that meets or exceeds MCOLES standards), and assist in developing your knowledge and skills, which together form the foundation for a successful career in law enforcement.

One of the unique features of our police academy program is, that as a result of where we're located, we're able to successfully train individuals for the needs of larger urban communities and smaller rural communities.

You'll attend a program with an excellent reputation. Based, in part, on our highly-qualified instructors who have worked for the FBI, ATF, Michigan State Police, Michigan DNR, as well as numerous city, county and local township law enforcement agencies.

In addition to learning from instructors who've done the job, recruits attending our academy will receive 594 hours of MCOLES mandated instruction. Plus, additional training to become MCOLES certified radar/lidar operators, MCOLES certified PBT operators and American Heart certified First Aid for First Responders and CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers. You'll be prepared with a total of nearly 740 hours of instruction.

College students may use the academy to earn credits toward their degree.

Be successful. Develop these skills.

  • CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
  • Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) –certification
  • Basic Radar/Lidar –certification
  • Training Scenarios
  • Pepper Spray
  • Resume Preparation
  • Job Interviewing Skills
  • K-9 Use in Police Work
  • Computer Crimes
  • Response to Biological/Nuclear Incidents
  • Motor Carrier Laws
  • Child Abduction (Amber Alert)/Missing Children
  • Federal Laws
  • Surviving Edged Weapons
  • Auto Theft
  • Gangs/Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
  • CCW Laws
  • TASER
  • DNR Laws
  • Human Trafficking

A Certificate of Achievement may be obtained upon successful completion of the Academy. This may be used toward a laddered certificate program. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Program Details

 Entry requirements

MCOLES Standards
To enter the Police Academy, you must meet the Standards established by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).  Delta College offers the Pre-Employment reading/writing and physical fitness tests for your convenience. They are required prior to enrollment in the program.

The educational prerequisites are:

  • A minimum of an associate degree from an accredited college or university must have been completed; or
  • Completing degree requisites through Delta College's Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Program with Basic Police Training Option; or
  • Criminal Justice Students from Saginaw Valley State University, Mid-Michigan Community College, and Alpena Community College may also attend Delta College's Police Academy as part of their law enforcement degree; or
  • MCOLES may issues an educational waiver upon completion of a military police academy and one year service as a military police officer.
Application information

Application Deadline
In order to secure your position in the next academy, your application must be completed by November 1, 2024.  The sooner, the better. On average, it takes about four weeks to complete all the application requirements. If you are seeking financial aid and/or a loan, you must have proper documentation outlining your approval amounts.

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Application Timeline
The application procedure is a multi-step process. As a guide, we've provided a basic timeline.

Step 1 - Become a Delta College student or guest student (Due by October 1, 2024)
Step 2
- Begin the Police Academy Application (Due by October 1, 2024)
Step 3 - Complete the  Police Academy Application Process. This includes the MCOLES pre-enrollment tests(Due by November 1, 2024)
Step 4
- Interview, scheduled by our office (Due by November 15, 2024)
Step 5
- Tuition Payment  (Due by December 3, 2024)

Get in Shape
Recruits reporting to the Training Academy are strongly advised to begin physical training several months before the start of the academy. The academy recruit school is not the time or place to start developing basic physical fitness.

Note
Late applicants or anyone not meeting these deadlines will have their eligibility to attend the Academy determined on a case by case basis.

Cost

2024/2025 Fees and Costs

In-District - $9,034

You must have resided in Bay County, Saginaw County, or Midland County for at least six months.

Out-District - $10,581

Out-of-State - $10,768

The above fees cover books and training materials as well as the required uniform minimum.  Please refer to Equipment (required) as you may encounter additional expenses obtaining these items.

Scholarships may be available.
The Delta College Police Academy encourages you to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as most scholarships require this form to be completed in order to be eligible for scholarships. You will also need to complete a scholarship application as well as write an essay. For more information, please contact Delta College Financial Aid.

Equipment (required)

The following equipment must be provided by each cadet:

  • White handkerchiefs
  • White crew neck t-shirts
  • Flip flops or shower shoes
  • Swim suit - navy blue for men or one-piece athletic suit for women - navy blue 
  • Compression shorts for women (if desired to wear with swimsuit)
  • Newer running shoes
  • Bathing towels
  • Shoe polishing kit
  • White ankle athletic socks for PT
  • Dark blue socks to cover the white socks when wearing boots
  • Black gloves for cold weather (any kind)
  • Computer thumb drive (USB memory sticks)
  • Black leather boots, 8" tall
  • Shirt Stays or Shirt Garter (recommended but not required)
  • Duty belt
  • Belt keepers
  • Handgun (9mm or 40 Cal. Must be full sized or compact NOT subcompact) (Model selected should be one commonly used by area law enforcement agencies. Please contact Academy staff prior to purchasing any handgun for academy use.)
  • Holster (threat level two with thumb break) (Holster must be designed for specific handgun used.)
  • 3 cartridge magazines
  • Magazine holders
  • Handcuff case
  • Flashlight of your choice (Mag Lite, Stinger,  Streamlight or similar)
  • Flashlight holder
  • Mouth guard
  • Laptop Computer

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Delta provides the 160-hour correction officer training mandated and approved by the Michigan Sheriff's Coordinating and Training Council (MSCTC) forming the foundation for a successful career in corrections. One of the unique features of our police academy program is, that as a result of where we're located, we're able to successfully train individuals for the needs of county sheriff's offices.

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