Police Cadet I

Tuscaloosa Police Department; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Tuscaloosa offers an entry-level Police Cadet Program for young adults seeking a law enforcement career. Cadets receive structured training, mentorship, and hands-on experience under sworn officers while handling non-enforcement support duties.

A physical ability exam is part of the application, with age 18–21, U.S. citizenship, and a valid driver's license among the requirements. No prior experience is required.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 to 21 years old.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Safety-sensitive position; pre-employment and random drug screenings.

Responsibilities

• Assist with administrative tasks such as filing, data entry, and report processing.
• Support sworn officers at community events, traffic control, and public safety initiatives.
• Participate in educational sessions on Alabama law, department procedures, and ethics.
• Liaise between the department and local schools, youth programs, and civic groups.
• Promote the department’s mission of integrity, service, and community partnership.

Skills

Data entry

Administrative tasks

Public safety awareness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The Police Cadet Program with the City of Tuscaloosa is an entry-level, non-sworn position designed for young adults interested in a career in law enforcement. The program is designed to introduce young adults to a career in law enforcement through structured training, mentorship, and practical hands-on experience under the supervision of sworn police officers. Cadets perform non-hazardous/non-enforcement support duties while learning about the operations of the Tuscaloosa Police Department and preparing for potential future roles as sworn officers.

A physical ability exam will be required as part of the application process. The physical ability exam will consist of:

• -5 pushups in 1 minute
• -5 sit ups in 1 minute
• -1 mile run in 15 minutes

The physical ability exam is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are normal for this classification. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Specific duties listed may not be required for all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

• Assist with administrative tasks such as filing, data entry, and report processing.
• Support sworn officers at community events, traffic control, and public safety initiatives.
• Participate in educational sessions on Alabama law, department procedures, and ethics
• Learns and studies departmental policies and procedures within an assigned unit of the department; becomes familiar with different officer assignments in the Police Department.
• Observe patrol operations through supervised ride-along (non-enforcement role).
• Maintains current department policy and procedures manual, city and state code manuals, employee handbooks, various maps, and related material for reference and/or review.
• Maintain police vehicles and assist with equipment inventory, follows safety procedures, requests service and/or repairs, ensures cleanliness and optimal operation of equipment.
• Organizes and prioritizes daily work assignments; attends shift meetings.
• Completes/prepares forms, logs, requests, records, reports, correspondence, and documents associated with daily responsibilities of this position; researches and locates records; maintains administrative records and files.
• Serve as a liaison between the department and local schools, youth programs, and civic groups.
• Promote the department’s mission of integrity, service, and community partnership.
• Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in daily activities.
• Maintains good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.
• Meets regular attendance requirements.
• May be required to be on call and/or regularly work on various shifts, weekends, and/or holidays as deemed necessary.
• Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
• Performs other related duties as required.

High school diploma from an accredited institution recognized by APOST or GED required; no previous experience required. Must possess a valid driver's license. Must be eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) years of age. Must be a U.S. Citizen. This job classification is considered to be safety-sensitive and is subject to pre-employment and random drug screens.

The following requirements are normal for this classification. Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to operate a variety of automated office equipment including computer, printer, typewriter, calculator, copy and facsimile machines, telephone, and law enforcement equipment such as handcuffs, flashlight, pepper gas, firearms, baton, tape measure, hand tools, two-way radio, and motor vehicle. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for very heavy work.

DATA COMPREHENSION:

Requires the ability to compare and or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things that may include maps, various directories and reports, calendar, training bulletins, manuals, and legal code books.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION:

Requires the ability to speak with and/or signal people to convey or exchange law enforcement, radio communication, medical, and court related information, including giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants, managers, or supervisors as well as communicating with court personnel, attorneys, various agencies, elected officials, and the general public.

LANGUAGE ABILITY:

Requires ability to read a variety of informational and law enforcement, radio communication, medical, and court related documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to write job related documentation and reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.

INTELLIGENCE:

Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex law enforcement, radio communication, medical, court related principles and techniques, to understand departmental policies and procedures, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.

VERBAL APTITUDE:

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow verbal and written instructions.

NUMERICAL APTITUDE:

Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, calculate decimals and percentages, determin