WORCESTER – In response to requests from city council, Chief of Police Steven Sargent outlined the curriculum of the Worcester Police Department Cadet Program in a report to councilors due to be presented to councilors at its meeting on Tuesday, May 2, at 6:30 PM in the Ester Howland at Worcester City Hall at 455 Main Street.
The meeting is available online for both viewing and remote participation via Zoom or by phone.
Link: https://zoom.us/j/91727574825
Phone: (929) 205 6099
Access Code: 917 2757 4825
According to Sargent, the cadet program aims to diversify law enforcement by encouraging young people to consider a career in policing and to serve as a pipeline to law enforcement. Offering practical experience, the goal is to recruit underrepresented populations, including people of color and women, from within the community.
Each enrollee must be between 18 and 23 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have two consecutive years of residency in Worcester. Each cadet commits to a two-year program, learning about organizational culture and gaining practical policing experience. Cadets who complete the program and pass the police entrance exam may receive a preference for appointment to the police recruit class.
In September 2021, the city allocated $102,402 to the program for five cadets, earning $15 per hour with a 40 hour work week. Each cadet receives health benefits and paid time off. The program has been in place since June 2022.
In his report, Sargent says cadets do not perform core police functions, but receive training from the department training division on communications, CPR/ first response, policy, and procedure. He outlines seven areas where cadets receive practical experience :
- Operations Division
- Ride-along with patrol officers for exposure to core police function of answering calls for service, proactive engagement;
- Working with Crisis Intervention Teams for experience dealing with mental health and addiction issues.
- Court Liason
- Support officers with clerical responsibilities with hearings, trials, and discovery issues;
- Coordinating with the office of the District Attorney, Probation Department, and defense bar to process arrests and criminal charges.
- Union Station Substation
- Working as the first point of contact for the public at the substation service window;
- Walking patrols with officers in the downtown area.
- Mounted Unit
- Supporting the Mounted Patrol at the barn that houses patrol horses
- Learning about care for horses and community policing aspects of the Mounted Patrol.
- Service Division
- Learning to process charges and prisoner processing;
- Conduct site security;
- Working as the first point of contact for the public at the service window.
- Outreach
- Assist officers at community events;
- Supporting Trunk or Treat event, food drives, Giving Tree event, school visits, autism awareness event.
- Emergency Communications
- Training and certification in taking 911 calls;
- includes 40 hours of classroom training and two day 011 class;
- Complete 4-6 week training for handing calls on their own.
