Description

The Covington Police Department has designed a Cadet Program for high school graduates, eighteen (18) years of age who have been accepted into college and are interested in a law enforcement career. Due to the nature of the work involved, high school graduates seventeen (17) years of age are eligible to apply but must be eighteen (18) years of age by the time of appointment. In order to be eligible for this position, per the City of Covington Code of Ordinances33.05, aPolice or Fire cadet (cadet), who reaches 21 years of age, and who has successfully completed at least 18 months of in-service training within the Police or Fire Department, or a graduate of the federally funded Police Corps Program (Corps graduate), shall have his or her name placed at the top of the current eligibility list for which the cadet has obtained an overall passing grade in the written or written and oral examinations.

To be accepted into the program, applicants must bea high school graduate. The student must have taken the ACT or SAT and be eligible to attend college-level classes. After a completed application has been submitted, the cadet candidate will be interviewed by the Selection Committee as openings occur. All Cadets assigned or to be assigned to the Police Department are designated as Citation Officers who may issue citations upon the observance of nonmoving motor vehicle offenses and/or violation of City ordinances except for motor vehicle offenses and for offenses that constitute a violation of the Kentucky Penal Code. The procedure for citations issued by a Citation Officer shall not be a limitation on the power of a Citation Officer to make an arrest as a private person as provided for in K.R.S. 431.005.
Citation Officers shall have the qualifications prescribed by this Section. Citation Officers shall not have the powers of peace officers to make arrests or carry deadly weapons.
Cadets will become familiar with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances as well as Police Department policies, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
Cadets will learn the basics of police work and general knowledge of the job through training, observation, and independent study.
Cadets will ride with experienced officers as civilian observers as scheduled by their supervisor.
Cadets shall write tickets, take reports, perform crime prevention assistance and perform other functions as directed by their supervisors.
The cadet will participate in physical fitness and self-defense training, as well as participate in department-sponsored training in preparation for becoming a police recruit and understanding the laws, roles and responsibilities of a police officer.

Qualifications

Must successfully pass the physical agility test, polygraph examination, behavioral assessment evaluation, and a background investigation.
Must be free from alcohol and drug dependency and possess emotional stability.
Must attend college during the program and be a student in good standing in a degree program. Thirty (30) credit hours with at least a "C" average or higher will be required for successful completion of the program at age 21.An Associate Degree is preferred.
Applicants are required to submit official transcripts of all high school grades.
Applicants must have or obtain a validdriver's license at the time of appointment.
A Police Cadet, who reaches 21 years of age, shall upon having successfully completed at least 18 months of in-service training within the Police Department, have his/her name placed at the top of the current eligibility list for which the cadet has obtained an overall passing grade in the written and oral examinations.
The Cadet at the top of a current eligibility list will be appointed, as a probationary employee upon recommendation of the Police Chief and City Manager, and upon approval of the Board of Commissioners, to fill vacancies as they occur in the Police Department, after successfully completing all prevailing pre-employment examinations, and meeting all other Police applicant requirements.
Should the Cadet fail to pass the first entrance examinations that compile an eligibility list for the Police Department, he/she may remain as a Cadet until the results of the next regular entrance examinations are published, at which time he/she shall be permanently relieved of duty as a Cadet if a passing grade is not received. In no event shall any person be permitted to remain as a Cadet after having twice failed the entrance examinations.