Police Cadet

City of Louisville; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 69,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking dedicated individuals to join their ranks as Police Cadets. This role offers a unique opportunity to serve the community while receiving comprehensive training at a POST Academy, with all tuition covered. Cadets will enjoy a competitive salary during training and a full benefits package, including medical, dental, and retirement plans. As a Police Cadet, you will gain invaluable experience in law enforcement, develop strong community relationships, and contribute positively to public safety. If you are ready to make a difference and embark on a rewarding career, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Flexible Spending Accounts

Short and Long Term Disability

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition Assistance

Learning & Development Opportunities

Wellness Program

Recreation Center Pass

Retirement Plan with Employer Match

Paid Time Off

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age by academy graduation.
• High School degree required with 60 college credits or military experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Respond to public disturbances and emergency situations.
• Investigate crime scenes and traffic crashes.
• Enforce traffic laws and maintain public order.

Skills

Communication Skills

Critical Thinking

Physical Fitness

Multitasking

Emergency Medical Knowledge

Evidence Collection

Education

High School Diploma

60 College Credit Hours or Associate Degree

Bachelor's Degree in Relevant Fields

Tools

MS Office Suite

Police Equipment

Job description

The Louisville Police Department is hiring Police Cadets! This is a great opportunity to become part of a city recognized as one of the Best Places to Live by Money Magazine in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Many things contribute to this exemplary quality of life and positive economic condition, including open space with over 32 miles of trails, dozens of great eateries, great schools, and wonderful neighborhoods.

Quality of Professional Life
Every community has law enforcement services, but not every community loves their police the way the citizens in Louisville do. It’s no secret that Louisville is consistently rated as one of the top places in the country to live, but many don’t know it is also one of the top places to be a police officer. As a Louisville police cadet (and police officer), you will experience a quality of professional life you will not find anywhere else.

Pace of policing matters. If you want to go from call to call with no lunch break, no training, and mandatory overtime, Louisville is not the place for you. Our officers work hard, but the workload is very manageable. Our officers have the ability to make a positive difference in peoples’ lives and contribute to our excellent quality of life because they have the ability to invest time in their investigations. Louisville officers often work cases from beginning to end, and develop lasting relationships with our community members by investigating beyond the obvious and providing thorough public safety service. By doing so, our officers gain experience and professional growth seldom found in law enforcement today.

It takes quality people to provide a quality product. If you’re ready to make a difference and be valued by your employer and your community, apply to be a Louisville police cadet today at LouisvilleCO.gov.

The Louisville Police Department has a great opportunity for someone wanting to pursue a career in law enforcement. We are looking for non-POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training) candidates. We will send you to a POST Academy at a date to be determined. We utilize a number of police academies, including Arapahoe Community College, Red Rocks Community College, Front Range Community College, and Aims Community College for our Police Cadets.

The academy is full time, 5-6 days per week during the 4-6-month training program. Cadets should not plan to take any time off during the academy.

As a Louisville Police Cadet, your tuition for the academy is paid for by the City of Louisville and you will receive an annual salary of $69,035.20 and a full benefit package while attending the academy. Upon successful completion of the academy, you will move into the Police Cadet FTO program at the City of Louisville. Your annual salary will increase to $72,488.00 as a Step 2 Cadet in FTO training. Once you have successfully completed the Police Cadet FTO program, your annual salary will increase to the Police Officer Step 1, which is paid an annual salary of $76,710.40.

Once you successfully graduate from the police academy and complete the FTO program, you will work under the general supervision of a Police Sergeant or Police Corporal, perform a wide variety of police and law enforcement duties, and respond to all situations which require a public safety presence. Police Officers are expected to protect life and property, maintain public order, conduct investigations, handle traffic enforcement and code enforcement, apprehend and arrest offenders, conduct civil processes, cultivate and foster a professional working relationship with schools, business and community groups and other law enforcement agencies to foster good citizen/police relationships and pro-actively reduce crime. Police Officers must be capable of using physical force, including deadly physical force, to protect citizens and apprehend criminal suspects; provide medical services, help the mentally ill, conduct searches and make public presentations. Police Officers are held to the highest ethical code of conduct while both on-duty and off-duty. The Police Cadet and Police Officer positions involve an especially thorough preemployment background investigation screening and testing process.

The City of Louisville offers the following benefits for Police Cadets and Police Officers:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts / Health Savings Account
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment Tuition Assistance
• Learning & Development Opportunities
• Wellness Program
• Recreation Center Pass
• Retirement Plan 401(a) with employer match
• Paid time off including vacation, sick and 12 holidays

Please view brochure.

All initial communication regarding your application will come via email usually from [e-mail] or the recruiter. Please check your email messages frequently. Please also check your junk or spam email box during the application process, to ensure no important information is missed.

• Respond to priority calls regarding public disturbances, criminal, civil, or emergency situations; direct activities on site unless relieved by a supervisor; may provide emergency medical assistance, traffic control, and otherwise ensure attention is given to general public safety.

• Detect and prevent criminal activities by surveillance of assigned business and residential areas. Notes possible criminal occurrences and takes steps to prevent criminal actions. Promotes crime prevention by initiating contact with businesses and residents including explaining applicable laws, soliciting cooperation in crime reporting, and otherwise creating a good rapport with citizens.

• Investigates crime scenes and traffic crashes and assists other officers. Identifies, collects, and preserves evidence and interviews witnesses, and suspects.

• Enforces traffic laws and vehicle codes and promotes pedestrian safety.

• Prepares a variety of handwritten and keyboarded reports related to crimes, accidents, and other duties. Maintains logs, completes forms and prepares reports as requested.

• Provides a variety of related police services including transporting prisoners, providing assistance to motorists, resolving domestic disturbances, public speaking before civic and non-civic groups, and testifies in court.

• Makes physical arrests that may or may not necessitate the use of force.

• Operates specialized and non-specialized police equipment including a police car, firearms, handcuffs, leg cuffs, radios, and other related equipment. Uniformed officers are required to wear a ballistic vest.

• Must be 21 years of age by academy graduation
• High School degree required
• Possess a valid Colorado Driver License
• Must have correctable vision to 20/40
• Must have 60 accredited college credit hours or Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Sociology, Psychology, Business Administration, Management of Public Administration, or a related field OR a minimum of 2 years of active duty military experience
• Accredited BA/BS degree in the aforementioned areas of study is preferred
• An acceptable combination of education, training, and experience may be considered

Qualifications for Police Cadet at the Academy:

• Knowledge of computer systems (MS Office Suite)
• Must have the ability to maintain good study habits and complete required academy coursework
• Ability to Multitask
• No disqualifying criminal convictions as defined by Colorado P.O.S.T.
• Ability to be assertive and self-motivated
• Ability to attend all scheduled academy training sessions throughout the week, vacation time is not authorized during the academy
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral)
• Ability to maintain levels of confidentiality
• Ability to interact effectively with diverse groups/individuals
• Ability to meet the academy’s physical fitness standards
• Upon successful completion of academy training, Cadets will take the Colorado P.O.S.T. test and upon successfully passing the test, receive Conditional Peace Officer Authority from Colorado P.O.S.T.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrates ability to think clearly and act wisely in stressful and non-stressful situations
• Upon certification, possess the knowledge of police principles and practices
• Knowledge of emergency medical and first aid practices
• Knowledge of laws, applicable ordinances and court decisions
• Knowledge of police related equipment
• Skill in identifying, collecting, and preserving evidence
• Skill in operating motor vehicles in hazardous situations
• Maintains police weapons proficiency level pursuant to Department standards and qualification requirements
• Skilled in communication
• Skill in the use of a personal computer and applications programs
• Ability to work effectively with the news media, the community, and other agencies and organizations
• Ability to analyze data and make decisions
• Ability to initiate and maintain productive communications and cooperation
• Ability to plan and coordinate activities
• Ability to act effectively in crisis situations
• Ability to analyze and investigate crime related situations
• Ability to prepare keyboarded and handwritten reports
• Ability to make oral presentations
• Ability to physically pursue, capture, and detain suspects
• Ability to work holidays, nights, weekends, and shifts

Working Conditions:
The working environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Police Officer encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the Police Officer frequently works in outdoor weather conditions, exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. This type of work involves a significant amount of time spent in a patrol vehicle and has a high degree of exposure to hazards and danger (from traffic hazards to the danger of inherent in working with career criminals and emotionally unstable persons). Working conditions can be highly stressful. This position also involves shift work including weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed. The noise level in the work environment is moderately noisy.

Physical Requirements:
The physical demands category is classified as Very Heavy (may need to exert in excess of 100 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 lbs. of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 lbs. of force constantly to move objects). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing this job, the Police Officer is frequently required to sit and talk, or hear. The Police Officer is occasionally required to stand; walk; run; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, jump, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Fluently read, write, and speak English. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The Police Officer position involves an especially thorough pre-employment screening and testing process. Post-offer includes drug test, comprehensive background investigation, polygraph exam, psychological tests, medical physical tests, and interviews.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
The City of Louisville offers Equal Opportunity for employment and advancement to all qualified applicants and employees. It is the city's policy not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry or disability unless related to a bona fide occupation qualification. This policy applies to all aspects of employment and the provision of the municipal services. The Human Resources Director has been designated as the compliance coordinator for persons with disabilities seeking employment and will provide reasonable accommodations for testing and employment to qualified applicants.