Justin Bradford is a decorated veteran of the United States Army. After leaving the service in 2014 Bradford attended Grand Rapids Community College. He graduated their police academy with an associate degree in criminal justice and certified in addiction studies. While attending the police academy Bradford was a cadet with East Grand Rapids Public Safety.
The internship generated an interest in the community policing aspect of law enforcement. Bradford was hired as a seasonal officer with the Mackinac Island Police Department summer 2018. After staying through the winter, he was offered a full-time position spring 2019. He completed training to be the Field Training Officer (FTO), PPCT Instructor, and Arsenal Instructor for the Mackinac Island Police Department. He believes police work on Mackinac Island offers an opportunity to focus on community policing.