A mother and son are taking the next big step toward their dream of becoming Detroit police officers—together.
Kelly, 44, currently works for the Detroit Police Department as a civilian in the tech unit. On Saturday, she attended the department’s one-day hiring event with her 25-year-old son, Johnny, to begin the process of becoming a full-duty officer.
Kelly, who still works as a civilian, says working inside the department motivated her to make the jump to becoming a sworn officer. She also lost a son who was killed in 2021.
“I help a lot of people. And working in PDU (detective unit), I love it. It motivated me to want to become a police officer and rank up. That’s my goal,” she said.
Kelly brought her son along with her to the event to get him on the same path. Johnny said joining his mom in the academy means a lot to him.
The mother-son duo were among 100s of applicants at Saturday’s One Stop Career Fair. The department offered same-day interviews, free medical screenings, agility and written tests.
Starting salary for new officers is around $60,000, with the opportunity to earn up to $91,000 within four years.
📍DPD Training Center
• 6050 Linwood, Detroit, MI 48208
Saturday, July 19, 2025
• 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Those interested in joining can still apply online at joindetroitsfinest.org or call DPD recruiting at 313-596-2607.
