ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Leadership, courage and integrity: These are just some of the many skills Sgt. Justin Collins and Officer Michelle Calderón say are vital for the Rochester Police Department.

“Yes, it can be a stressful job,” Collins said. “Yes, there's pressure on you, but I feel like this place produces leaders. And I think our history shows that just some incredible men and women who work for this organization right now.”

The department is looking to hire new recruits of around 100 officers by April 4, to keep up with the needs and demands of the community it serves.

“911 calls aren't going anywhere,” Collins said. “They continue. As we sit here, people are calling 911 with no other hope. So without a doubt, the need for leaders to step forward has never been greater.”

The department is actively engaging with the community beyond traditional career fairs. Their team shares that they have dedicated the majority of their time to visiting community centers and interacting with residents who may be interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

“We're playing with kids in the street, we're playing basketball,” Calderón said. “We're coming and reading to them at school. We're trying to get involved in the community and we do good things every day. It’s very rewarding for me.”

Aside from the required qualifications, Collins and Calderón say their journeys have inspired them to continue to dedicate years to the force.

“I grew up in the city of Buffalo, a single-parent home,” Collins said. “A lot of poverty. I was playing with action figures outside my house and there were two kids. I think they were 15, kind of like the neighborhood bullies. They came down the street, they pushed me down, got my action figures and laughed. I was pretty upset. I told my mother, my mother called the police, and that's pretty much the end of it, right? I didn't think anything was going to come of it. A police car came down the street, the two kids were in the back of the car and [police officers] pulled the two kids out of the car. [They] said to me, 'are these the kids that took your stuff?' They gave the action figures back and I fell in love with becoming a police officer.”

“As a child growing up with domestic violence, drug addiction in the home, incarceration, poverty,” Calderón said. “To have officers that have lived through these situations and can relate to people when they go to their homes and they're talking to people about these very important issues. For anyone like myself who never wanted to be an officer, take a chance on yourself, that is where you will make the most change.”

Important 2025 dates for applicants: 

• RPD written exam: May 3
• Application deadline: April 4
• Agility test dates: June 20, 21, or 22

Police Officer requirements:

• United States citizen
• High School Diploma or GED
• Must be at least 19 years old and not have reached your 35th birthday on or before the date of the written test and must be at least 20 years old at the time of appointment.
• Valid Driver License
• No felony convictions
• Good moral character and physical condition
• Residency is not an application requirement, but you must reside in Monroe County or any surrounding county (Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, or Wayne) upon appointment.

To learn more, you can email recruit@cityofrochester.gov or call the recruitment office at 585-428-7619.