How Do You Become A Police Cadet?
One way to become a police officer is to start out as a police cadet. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for patrol police officers is expected to increase by 11 percent from 2006 to 2016. The median salary for a patrol officer is $47,460. Earnings as a cadet are significantly lower. For example, in Redding, California, police cadets are being hired part time at an hourly wage of $8.50 to $10.44. Here are the steps to take to become a cadet: If you are between 14 and 20 years old, you can join the Police Explorer Program through the Boy Scouts of America. In this program, you will have opportunities to go on job shadow trips with on-duty police officers. This will give you some hands-on experience and an edge over other candidates applying to a police cadet program. Call police departments in your area (see resource below for contact information by state) and find out which ones offer police cadet programs. Be flexible about location. If you live in a rural area, c
