Police Cadet

Police Cadet Position

The incumbent of this position serves in a learning or training capacity while assisting regular commissioned police officers and other police department personnel in the performance of their duties. Cadets are supervised by the Training Sergeant but may also receive instructions and guidance from other police department personnel. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of hire and enrolled at an accredited college or university in a program related to public safety. Job location and equipment utilized includes standard office equipment, departmental computers with associated software and peripherals, department vehicles and other miscellaneous equipment.

Essential functions include transporting police department vehicles for general service and maintenance, providing service and support to a wide variety of employees of the police department and the City, inspecting and maintaining all equipment used, performing a wide variety of activities which may include office work, traffic direction, crowd control activities, civic events, and other assignments as directed, performing fingerprinting of civilians as needed, attending mandatory training and completing shift work requirements as established by the Training Sergeant, assisting sworn and civilian personnel with essential non-emergency tasks, assisting with training programs including equipment transportation and setup, and other duties as assigned.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities include the ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively recognize actual and potential dangers and to determine the proper course of action, ability to carry out complex oral and written instructions, must possess good powers of observation and memory, ability to understand the problems and attitudes of people of all ethnic and socio-economic groups in relation to law enforcement agencies, ability to write clear concise reports organizing details logically, utilizing correct spelling and grammar, ability to read, understand and interpret applicable federal and state laws and city ordinances, ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, superiors and the general public, both orally and in writing, ability to work under pressure, good mental intelligence, emotional stability, self-assurance and a high degree of initiative and good judgment.

Required physical traits include the ability to perform the required physical activities of assigned duties, ability to work variable shifts, manual dexterity and visual acuity to operate computer equipment, ability to lift heavy objects and to patrol city parks on foot, ability to work outside in all types of weather conditions, possible exposure to altercations and confrontations, contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals, and ability to safely drive a vehicle in all weather conditions.

Minimum qualifications must be at least 18 years old at the time of hire and enrolled at an accredited college or university in a program related to public safety. Must possess a valid Washington State Driver License and have a driving record acceptable to the City's insurance carrier and be able to pass a police background check.

Automatic disqualifiers for position of police cadet include evidence that the applicant has willfully provided false or misleading information during the application or screening process, either orally or in writing; convicted of a felony crime or offense; convicted of any crime or offense (felony or misdemeanor), involving perjury, false statements or a crime of moral turpitude; commission of an unreported felony crime during the three year period immediately preceding the date of application; convicted of a crime or offense of domestic violence; recent or ongoing affiliation with, and/or support of, an organization or group which advocates the violent overthrow of the United States government, or whose professed goals are contrary to the interests of public safety; any illegal use of a controlled substance within three years immediately preceding the date of application; illegal use of a controlled substance through injection into the body at any time; a pattern of illegal drug use within the previous four years preceding the date of application that indicates ongoing, regular or recreational illegal use of a controlled substance; the selling, production or financing the production, sale or distribution of illegal controlled substances, or the obtaining of such substances through illegal use of a prescription(s); a history of chronic alcohol or controlled substance abuse, which has hampered job performance at any time during four years immediately preceding the date of application; dependence upon prescription medications or drugs which would result in physical harm to the applicant or which would limit the applicant's ability to perform should duties preclude the availability of such medication or drug in an emergency situation; termination from or disciplinary action in any employment within five years from the time of application for misconduct, ethics violations, criminal conduct, falsification orally or in writing, or a matter of moral turpitude.