DETECTIVE – INTERNAL ONLY POSTING

THE CITY OF JACKSON IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: DETECTIVE – INTERNAL ONLY POSTING

**** EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER **
The City of Jackson is committed to becoming a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We are dedicated to creating an environment that fully embraces all our differences and shared experiences.

General Summary: Under general supervision, investigates for the solution of criminal cases, for the prevention of crimes and for the detection and arrest of criminals; visits places frequented by criminals in order to obtain necessary evidence; interviews complainants and witnesses; gathers evidence from various sources concerning crimes; and assists in the preparation of cases and in the prosecution of criminals.

Keeps records; prepares investigative and other reports; makes public presentations on behalf of the department; and performs related work as required. Actively engages the community to form partnerships, consistent with the department’s values, mission, and vision. Wears approved uniform attire and uses approved equipment.

Must have the ability to perform the essential job functions, as outlined by MCOLES.

Physical Demands: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here 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.

The applicant must be able to meet all MCOLES physical ability and health requirements, as well as be free from mental and emotional instabilities that may impair the applicant’s ability to perform duties and/or which may endanger the lives of others. In addition, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person and by telephone, read regular and small print, sit, use limited mobility in an office setting, use manual dexterity to type and enter data, stand, walk, climb steps, walk on uneven surfaces, operate, enter and exit a motor vehicle, and use sight to read and prepare documents and reports. The typical work environment of this job is a business office setting where the noise level is moderate, though the employee is also required to work in a variety of other environments while performing investigations. The employee could potentially come in contact with dangerous chemicals.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must have two (2) years of service in the Jackson Police Department at the rank of Patrol Officer. Applicants must have knowledge of laws, ordinances, rules and regulations; and knowledge of modern criminal investigation methods and procedures. Applicants must demonstrate special aptitude for investigative and detective work, keen powers of observation, and good memory. Applicants must also demonstrate high moral standards, resourcefulness, self-direction, initiative, industriousness, neatness, and courteousness. All law enforcement officers must be U.S. citizens with no prior felony convictions and otherwise meet the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). Applicants must have and maintain a Michigan driver’s license and a good driving record.

In addition to the above requirements, all City positions require: the ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language as necessary for the position; the ability to follow written and oral instructions; and the ability to get along with other employees and members of the public. City employees are also expected to possess and maintain a record of orderly law-abiding citizenship, sobriety, integrity and loyalty as it pertains to and reflects upon their employment with the City. City employees must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential duties of their position without excessive absences.

It is the policy of the city to promote and encourage the recruitment, hiring, training and advancement of all persons and not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of religion, race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, source or level of income, height, weight, religious or political opinion, union affiliation, and physical or mental handicap unrelated to the individual's ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position.

Grade/Salary: 84/ $72,238 - $94,099

Benefit Package:
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Pension Program
• Healthcare Savings Plan

Date Posted: September 8, 2026
Application Deadline: September 14, 2026

To Apply:
• Visit the City of Jackson website at www.cityofjackson.org and view the Personnel and Labor Relations Department page.
• Click on the job title you wish to apply for under job opportunities and submit your information to include a resume. You will receive an email once you apply including the next steps.

2026 BIBLIOGRAPHY
POLICE DETECTIVE EXAMINATION – v5342-26

Reference Materials
100 questions will be developed from the sources cited below.

Criminal Investigation, 12th edition (2022), Christine H. Orthmann & Karen M. Hess, Henry Lim Cho, Cengage Learning, ISBN# 978-0-357-51167-1

Michigan Criminal Law & Procedure, A Manual for Michigan Police Officers, 6th edition (2026), Michigan Department of State Police, Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, ISBN 9798385157112 (print), ISBN 9798385157129 (E book)

Ordering Information

Most of the textbooks listed above can be found in reputable bookstores or from online distributors. To help make your purchasing easier, Empco recommends using the following resources to purchase the materials (use of the ISBN numbers will assist in the ordering process):

Cengage Learning www.cengagebrain.com
Kendall Hunt Publishing Company www.kendallhunt.com
or (800) 228-0810

Tips for Studying for Empco Written Promotional Exams

About the Test
 All promotional exams consist of questions written from the books and documents listed on the bibliography published by Empco. The test will indicate what book or document upon which each question is based.
 Exams generally consist of 100 multiple-choice questions. (Some departments request tests that have more or less than 100 questions.) Each question has four answer options, one correct answer and three distractors.
 Answers must be filled in on a bubble answer sheet. Answers not filled in on the bubble sheet will be scored as incorrect.
 All questions are written by experts in the field of public safety.

How to Prepare
 Read the books and documents listed on the bibliography. Candidates who do not read the material generally do not do well on the tests.
 Do NOT rely on any study guides a book author or publisher may offer. Empco does not take questions from any study guide or the review questions at the end of a book chapter.
 Empco does NOT write questions from: glossaries, appendices, or dates.
 Think about what is relevant to the rank you are testing for, NOT the rank you currently hold. The test is designed to measure knowledge needed by those in the rank for which you are testing.
 Look for material that lends itself to questions: key terms, lists, rules, absolutes, compare and contrast statements, and steps.

Taking the Test
 Feel free to mark on your test booklet.
 Answer the questions you know and go back to the ones you don’t.
 Use process of elimination. Narrow down your answer options.
 It is better to guess and fill in an answer than to leave a question blank.
 Be sure to mark all of your answers on your answer sheet.

***Please note: The wearing or possession of any type of electronic device with the capability of recording audio or video, calculating, transmitting, streaming, communicating, connecting to the internet or to a network, is strictly prohibited in the testing room. This includes department issue body cameras. Please remove them prior to entering the test.