Cobb Reporter

Do you know a 14-20 year old that is interested in law enforcement? MPD is starting a new CADET program!

The Marietta Police Department will be hosting an informational/program launch meeting on Thursday March 2, 2023 (3/2/2023) at 6pm at Marietta PD Headquarters, 240 Lemon Street to discuss and recruit potential applicants to our Law Enforcement Explorer/Public Safety Cadet Program. 

Parent(s) or guardian(s) are welcome to attend as well. The session will be approximately 1 hour long.

Applicant basic qualifications:

1. Applicant must be 14-20 years of age and a U.S. citizen.

2. Applicant must not have a prior arrest record or serious traffic violations.

3. Applicant must be of good conduct and high moral character.

4. Upon acceptance into the Unit, the applicant must maintain a “C” average (2.0) in scholastic studies. Once a Cadet graduates from high school, he/she must enroll in at least two courses per semester at an accredited college or full time employment to remain in the program.

Background:

Marietta Police Department has run a very successful Law Enforcement Explorer Post through BSA for over 30 years. That youth program started in 1988, but with the onset of the pandemic, enrollment suffered. The Marietta Police Department is excited to restart the program, but this time also as a Public Safety Cadet program. Cadets, just like Explorers don’t carry real weapons or make arrests. They do participate in public service, police training simulations and youth competitions. They also assist the police department at some events and have the option of doing ride-alongs. You can read more about the PSC program here:

https://publicsafetycadets.org/

Sample video from a program in Virginia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfqdmGaRhA0

Another video about Public Safety Cadets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B6-bhJXvK8

Our Explorer program generated many successful local, state, and federal law enforcement officers over its 30+ year run. It allowed students to be involved in city and county events as supplemental resources doing things like traffic control or looking for lost children at events on the square. The program takes trips to competitions around the south, also holds camps at the police academy over the summer that include driver and firearms training, emergency first aid, and competitions in various police scenarios. After high school, some students/explorers go on to the employment, college, or the military and never return to public safety careers after the experience, but some use it as a boost for scholarship opportunities and advancement in police, fire, or other government service. Recently our members have started work at MPD at 18 as Public Safety Ambassadors, Transport Officers, and had access to scholarships and tuition reimbursement through the police department, working those positions for 1.5 to 2 years before promoting to police officer once they were at least 19.75 years old.

https://www.mariettaga.gov/252/Explorers

https://www.mariettaga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11030/What-does-it-take---Explorers

Original source can be found here.