Police Cadet

The Cadet Program is designed to provide a continual supply of highly qualified, proficient police officers to the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. The Cadet Program fills the gap that exists between high school graduation and the 21st birthday of the police aspirants. The Cadet Program will strengthen the knowledge and training of police aspirants. The Cadet Program aspires to  better reflect the community that we serve, and strengthen the relationship between the youth of the community and the police.

Training Program 

1. The Cadet will work with various units and schedule rotations throughout the program. 

2. During the program the cadet will be assigned to different units of the department.  To include; Patrol, Selective Enforcement Unit, Criminal Investigative Division, Booking, Office of Community Engagement, and Horse and K9 trainings.   

3. While working in each unit, the Cadet will be assigned to an evaluator within each unit. The evaluator will complete an evaluation form covering the time he/she oversaw the Cadet. 

4. The Cadet will be required to participate and/or observe use of force and firearms trainings.

Pre-Requisite Requirements for Cadets 

1. The applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of hire and may not have reached his/her twenty-first birthday.   

2. The applicant must be a citizen of the United States. 

3. The applicant must have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. 

4. The applicant should live within the School District of Lancaster (SDOL), but it is not a requirement. SDOL students will be given preference for open cadet positions.

 5. The applicant must be able to work 15-19 hours per week, on a year round basis.

Policy:  A Cadet Corps has been reestablished with the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. This policy is to be considered as a guideline for requirements, duties, responsibilities and operation of The Cadet Corps.

Selection Process 

1. The cadet applicant will be required to successfully pass an oral review board conducted by the Cadet Committee. 

2. The Cadet applicant must successfully pass a background investigation, conducted by the Bureau of Police, and each applicant shall undergo a polygraph examination as part of the employment process. 

3. Cadet applicants who have successfully passed the oral review board and background investigation shall undergo a physical examination, psychological evaluation and a drug test.  The requirements for physical health of Cadets shall be the same as for a police officer. 

4. No applicant shall be employed as a Cadet without the approval of the Chief of Police. 

Assignment 

1. The Cadet Program is a training related program, each Cadet will be permanently assigned to the Community Engagement and Training Sergeants during his/her employment as a Cadet. 

2. The Cadet will work part-time, between 15-19 hours per week during days, nights, weekends or as determined by his/her supervisor. The schedule will be set and approved by the Community Engagement sergeant and Community Engagement Lieutenant. 

3. The cadet will be trained to assist police officers with non-emergency duties and responsibilities, such as traffic and parking control, taking reports of minor crimes and incidents, and providing assistance and support to the police bureau as needed. Cadets have no police authority, and other than writing parking tickets, will not take any enforcement actions.       

Evaluation Process 

1. Police Officers, CSA’s and PSA’s will evaluate the Cadet’s performance on an evaluation form at the end of each week, and submit completed forms to the Community Engagement and Training Sergeants. The Community Engagement and Training sergeants shall review all evaluations, with the Cadet.  A copy of all evaluations will be kept by the Community Engagement and Training Sergeants in the Cadet’s personnel file. 

2. An unsatisfactory evaluation will be grounds for dismissal. 

3. Police Cadets shall maintain a crime free background and shall adhere to all laws, regulations, and policies governing the conduct and actions of the Bureau of Police and any breach of regulations shall be grounds for discipline, suspension or dismissal. This position is an “AT WILL” position. 

4. Cadets shall adhere to all regulations governing the conduct and actions of members of the Bureau of Police and any breach of regulations shall be grounds for discipline, suspension or dismissal. 

5. The Chief of Police may discharge a Cadet for any reason. 

6. The Cadet shall call all members of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police with the rank of patrolman or above by rank and shall address them as sir or ma’am. 

Advancement

Each Cadet shall be advanced to the position of police officer, only if he/she meets the following requirements: 

1. The Cadet reached the age of twenty and successfully passed the civil service exam for police officer in the year of hiring to police officer. The Cadet must test with other applicants vying for police officer positions in the same time period. The Cadet will be placed on the civil service eligibility list based on his/her score. The Lancaster City Bureau of Police will hire new applicants based on the civil service eligibility list, starting with the highest score and continuing down the list until the open positions are filled. 

2. The Cadet will qualify for five (5) preference points if he/she has successfully completed the Cadet program, which is determined by the Chief of Police. In order to receive the Cadet preference points, he/she must first attain a passing grade on the civil service exam. The Cadet must not have been the subject of disciplinary action. The Cadet must also receive a performance evaluation indicating probable satisfactory performance as an officer, determined by the Chief, or his designee. 

3. The Cadet satisfactory passing of background investigation, polygraph, and all requirements of the Criminal History Records Act, Chapter 91 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code is required.  Upon conditional offer, cadet will undergo physical examination, psychological evaluation, and drug screening. 

4. Openings or projected openings exist for police officer positions with the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. 

5. If no openings for police officer positions exist at time of completion of the cadet program, then the Cadet may be retained until such openings occur. 

6. The hiring approval of the Chief of Police and the Mayor is received. 7. The Cadet meets all of the hiring and police academy entry regulations and criteria as set forth by the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission and the Lancaster City Civil Service Commission.