Police Cadet

Lynchburg Police Department; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Lynchburg Police Department seeks entry-level Police Cadets aged 18–21 to gain exposure to law enforcement through a rotating, non-sworn role. Cadets assist with customer service, administrative duties, and light operational tasks across divisions, building a foundation for future sworn service.

The program emphasizes career development, mentorship from sworn officers, and training in modern policing practices and information systems.

Qualifications

• Cadet must be at least 18 years old and capable of handling customer inquiries.

Responsibilities

• Provide general customer service to the public, answer questions, assist walk-ins, and direct inquiries.
• Learn to document information in incident reports and assist with records maintenance.
• Assist sworn staff with administrative tasks, filing, and data entry in records systems.
• Observe and ride along with officers to gain exposure to patrol operations.

Skills

Customer service

Data entry

Interpersonal communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

NCIC/VCIN training

Job description

The Police Cadet position is a non-sworn, entry-level role designed to introduce individuals between the ages of 18 to 21 to the law enforcement profession while providing meaningful support to the Lynchburg Police Department (LPD). Cadets assist the Department by performing customer service, administrative tasks, and operational duties in various divisions on a rotational basis.

This position is intended to serve as a career development opportunity, preparing cadets for potential future service as sworn police officers. Cadets gain exposure to modern policing practices, including community engagement, technology-driven crime prevention, and collaborative problem-solving.

Career Development Pathway

The Police Cadet Program is designed as a pipeline to a career as a sworn police officer with the Lynchburg Police Department. Cadets receive hands-on experience across multiple divisions of the Department, building a strong foundation in community engagement, administrative processes, and operational support.

Cadets who demonstrate strong performance, commitment to LPD’s mission, and alignment with the values of modern policing are encouraged to apply for sworn Police Officer positions when eligible. The program provides:

• Exposure to all major areas of the Department, including Patrol, Investigations, Emergency Communications, and Community Policing.
• Training in law enforcement technology, record systems, and best practices.
• Mentorship from sworn officers, supervisors, and professional staff.
• Professional development opportunities to prepare for transition to a sworn police officer.

The ultimate goal of the program is to develop future police officers who are community-focused, technologically proficient, and committed to partnering with and protecting the citizens of Lynchburg.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide general customer service to community members, including answering questions, assisting walk-ins, writing and retrieving reports, and directing inquiries.
• Learn to conduct basic interviews with victims and witnesses, documenting information in incident reports.
• Assist with maintaining records, files, and data entry in records management systems.
• Train to become certified in operating the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) systems.
• Observe and ride along with sworn police officers to gain exposure to patrol operations.
• Assist sworn and professional staff with administrative tasks, including filing, processing paperwork, and evidence handling.
• Assist in orienting and mentoring newly hired cadets.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental operations.

Additional Duties

• Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.
• When unusual situations occur and/or the City Manager declares a State of Emergency, all City employees may be required to accept special assignments and perform as needed to ensure appropriate service delivery.

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from high school or equivalent.
• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment.
• Possession of a valid Virginia driver's license and an acceptable driving record according to City criteria, or the ability to obtain one.

Must successfully complete IS100 and IS700 National Incident Management (NIMS) training within 90 days of employment. May also be required to complete higher levels of NIMS training as determined appropriate for the position.