Michigan Ranked Among Best States to Be a Police Officer

A new study has ranked the best states to be a cop - and Michigan is pretty high on the list.

Get our free mobile app

While law enforcement has always been a career in the public eye, recent high-profile police brutality cases have put even more of a spotlight on the profession.

The Justice Department and some local police forces have made changes to rules governing police officers and President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address called for law enforcement officers to receive better training.

Personal finance website Wallethub has sought to determine the best states to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Wallethub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key indicators of police-friendliness. The data set ranges from the median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local police-protection expenses per capita.

How Did Michigan Score in Best States to Be a Cop Ranking?

Overall, Michigan came in at No. 17, with a total score of 46.36.

Here's a breakdown of Michigan's scores:

• Opportunity and Competition: 15
• Law Enforcement Training Requirements: 23
• Job Hazard and Protections: 26

The number one state to be a cop? According to Wallethub, it's California, with a total score of 62.3. Here are California's scores:

• Opportunity and Competition: 3
• Law Enforcement Training Requirements: 2
• Job Hazard and Protections: 16

Top Ten Best States to Be a Cop

1. California
2. District of Columbia
3. Connecticut
4. Maryland
5. Illinois
6. Ohio
7. Colorado
8. Washington
9. New York
10. Massachusetts

Ten Worst States to Be a Cop

42. Oregon
43. South Carolina
44. Louisiana
45. Mississippi
46. Alabamama
47. Nevada
48. Kentucky
49. West Virginia
50. Alaska
51. Arkansas