(a) The minimum employment standards for law enforcement officers as established and adopted by the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Training Council in accordance with Act No. 203 of the Public Acts of 1965, as amended, are hereby adopted as follows:
(1) An applicant shall be a citizen of the United States.
(2) An applicant shall be at least twenty-one years of age.
(3) An applicant shall be a graduate of high school or the equivalent. As used in this section, "equivalent" means attaining a passing score on the General Education Development test indicating high school graduation level.
(4) An applicant shall be fingerprinted with a search of local, State and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
(5) An applicant shall not have been convicted of a felony offense.
(6) An applicant shall have good moral character as determined by a favorable report following a comprehensive background investigation covering school and employment records, home environment, personal traits and integrity. Consideration shall be given to any and all law violations, including traffic and conservation law convictions which may indicate a lack of good character.
(7) An applicant shall have acceptable physical, emotional and mental fitness as established by a licensed physician following examination to determine that such applicant is free from any physical, emotional or mental condition which might adversely affect his or her performance of duty as a police officer.
(8) An applicant shall possess normal hearing and normal color vision. He or she shall be free from any impediment of the senses. He or she must possess normal visual functions and visual acuity in each eye correctable to 20/20 vision. The trainee must be physically sound, well developed physically, with height and weight in relation to each other and to age as indicated by accepted medical standards, and in possession of his or her extremities. He or she shall be free from any physical defects, chronic diseases, organic diseases, organic or functional conditions or mental instabilities which may tend to impair efficient performance of duty or which might endanger the lives of others or himself or herself if he or she lacks these qualifications.
(b) A declaration of an applicant's medical history shall become a part of the background investigation. The information shall be available to the examining physician.
(c) An oral interview shall be held by the hiring authority, or his or her representative, to determine an applicant's acceptability for a police officer position and to assess appearance, background and ability to communicate.
(d) Recruitment and employment practices and standards shall be in compliance with existing State statutes governing this activity.
(e) The standards of the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Training Council are recognized as minimum standards. Higher standards recommended by the Training Council, when qualified applicants are available, shall also be recognized.