GENERAL PURPOSE:

The Cadet Program is designed to temporarily employ young adults seeking employment as police officers with the Show Low Police Department. Cadets are non-sworn Agency employees who are full or part-time. No rank structure exists within the Cadet Program, and all cadets are at-will employees.

Cadets require no training prior to commencing employment with the Agency; however, cadets experience on-the-job training to learn the duties of the specific assignments cadets receive throughout the Agency.

The Cadet Program is under the direct supervision of the Operations Commander, or his/her designee. Cadets are periodically evaluated for efficiency and job performance. Successful cadets are appointed as Police Recruits to the first Academy class for which they become eligible.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the general supervision of an assigned Police Sergeant

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

No supervision exercised.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Cadets are not sworn officers and are not given the power or authority to make arrests or take any law enforcement action whatsoever. Cadets shall not exercise any arrest or enforcement authority. Cadets shall not intentionally engage in activities that may require the powers given to sworn officers, such as the use of force or powers of arrest. This does not prohibit their ability to come to the aid of a citizen or another officer in need of assistance as would any other citizen or at the direction of a lawful order by a sworn officer.

Cadets will assist members of the Agency in accomplishing work objectives which may include:

Administrative duties;

Performing duties of station clerk;

Assisting Traffic Operations with various duties such as:

Conducting safety seat inspections;

Crime prevention and Traffic Operations public education programs;

Staffing SLPD informational displays or booths;

Assisting with crowd control and traffic control at public events such as parades, fairs, fireworks displays, sporting events;

Assisting with crowd control and traffic control at crime scenes, fires, traffic light outages, and other unusual occurrences;

Any other related duties authorized by the Operations Commander, and within the cadet's scope of authority.

Cadets may also be utilized as a resource for support services during emergencies and large scale special events in accordance with their scope and authority.

Cadets shall not be assigned to perform law enforcement related tasks which would require a sworn law enforcement officer without the direct supervision of a sworn member of the Agency. They will, from time to time, be assigned to assist sworn members of the Agency with their law enforcement related duties. In such instances, the sworn officer will provide the exact nature of the cadet's duties, and the Cadet will be provided any necessary training to perform his / her assigned task. During this time, the Cadet shall remain under close supervision by the sworn member.

Cadets shall not be assigned or authorized to carry any weapons, lethal or non-lethal, at any time except during formal training by a certified instructor.

Cadets shall not take any action that is contrary to, or interferes with, the duties of the members of the Agency.

TRAINING:

Cadets provide services to support duties not requiring sworn officer status. Prior to any assignment, the cadet will receive instructions and/or training appropriate to the duties anticipated. Often such training is conducted one-on-one, with an officer / employee assigned to perform such duties. Cadet training may vary from formal classroom training to on-the-job training.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

(a)    Graduation from high school or GED equivalent

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

(a)    Working knowledge of computers and electronic data processing.

(b)     Skill in the operation of the tools and equipment listed below.

(c)    Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.  Ability to handle stressful situations.  Ability to learn applicable laws, ordinances, and department rules and regulations.  Ability to exercise logic, reason, and creativity in evaluating situations and in making decisions. Ability to provide the best service to the public while adhering to laws, ordinances, and department rules.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Cadets must meet the same requirements as those of police officers, excluding the age requirement, and maintain those qualifications while in the Cadet Program. Failure to maintain these standards and qualifications while in the Cadet Program will result in dismissal from the program and the Agency. Cadets must be between the ages of 17 and 19 at the time of application. Applicants may not be appointed until they are 18 years of age, and must be appointed before their twentieth birthday. Cadets may enter the police academy at age 20 provided they will reach their 21st birthday before graduation.

A Cadet who becomes ineligible for the position of police officer during employment as a Cadet will be terminated.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Cadets may operate Agency vehicles only if they are on duty, possess a valid operator's license, and are directed by a supervisor. Vehicles operated by a Cadet may be used for:

Transportation to and from maintenance facilities;

Administrative purposes;

Transportation to and from an assignment location; and

Special assignments.

Cadets will not use any vehicle to pursue another vehicle or respond to any situation with the emergency equipment activated. 

First aid equipment, personal computer, including Microsoft office word, power point, excel and outlook; financial and other software systems; calculator, phone, copy and fax machines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands descried here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Physical ability necessary to meet all physical testing requirements of the department.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk, hear and listen.  The employee is often required to have sufficient personal mobility, flexibility, stamina, strength, and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to direct traffic, bend or stoop repeatedly, maneuver through and over rough, uneven, slippery or rocky terrain, climb over fences and walls as necessary, perform search activities for extended periods of time, and perform all duties required in a law enforcement environment..

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to use a firearm safely and effectively, direct traffic, write reports, utilize equipment required for the performance of duties, and operate a vehicle. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee frequently works in both an inside office environment and outside in variable weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

Formal application through department procedures, rating of education and experience; written test; oral interview and reference check; polygraph examination; psychological examination; medical examination, physical agility test, other job related tests may be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of then various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.