Police Cadet

Police Cadet Position

The Gaithersburg Police Department is currently seeking highly motivated candidates who are at least 18 years old or who will be 18 years old at the time of hire. We are looking for candidates who are interested in a future career as a Gaithersburg Police Officer to be considered for the position of Police Cadet. The Police Cadet Program serves to identify and select qualified individuals contemplating a career in the field of law enforcement and provide them with career orientation and first-hand experience to better prepare them to be a Gaithersburg Police Officer when they reach the minimum age requirements.

Cadets perform a variety of hands-on administrative, technical, and other tasks supporting the functions, services, and operations of the Gaithersburg Police Department while gaining insight and awareness into a law enforcement career and various phases of law enforcement. Cadets have an opportunity to work directly with, assist, and observe sworn and civilian personnel to experience the challenges and personal rewards of a police career. Candidates should exhibit good character, sound judgment, honesty, reliability, and integrity that blend together with a philosophy for community-oriented policing, and a strong desire to serve the citizens of Gaithersburg.

About the job:

• $18.78 per hour.
• Be at least 18 years old (at the time of hire).
• May work up to 20 hours per week (evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required).
• Eligible for up to $5,250 in tuition reimbursement per year of GPD Cadet employment. Reimbursement will occur after successful completion of the Police Officer field training program.

Application, recruitment & selection process:

Complete & submit the online application & Personal History Statement. Online applications must be fully completed and filed by the posted online closing date. Applicants who move forward in the process after completing the online application will receive an email invitation to complete the Personal History Statement. Applicants MUST complete the Personal History Statement in its entirety, ensuring that the instructions in each section are followed and the information provided is complete and accurate. The Personal History Statement is a comprehensive document requiring a significant amount of information. Applicants will have 14 days to complete the Personal History Statement. If you are unable to complete the Personal History Statement within 14 days of receiving the activation link, your account will be locked. Should you wish to unlock your account and reactivate your Personal History Statement, send a message via the online portal requesting additional time. Please note that after 60 days, your account will be archived and unable to be reactivated. Again, only fully completed Personal History Statements will be accepted. Intention to lie or deliberately withhold information on the online application and/or Personal History Statement will result in an applicant's permanent disqualification. Online applications and attached materials are stored on a secure site. Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the information submitted.

Written Examination. After completing the online application and Personal History Statement, applicants who pass the initial screening phase may be invited to attend the written examination. Applicants must receive a score of 60% or higher to pass the exam. The written exam is standardized and timed, and uses valid, non-discriminatory procedures. Applicants provide a writing sample as part of the examination.

Physical Fitness Test. A physical fitness test will be administered to all applicants on the same day as the written examination (an applicant must be invited to attend). The minimum acceptable scores for each component have been determined from the universally accepted Cooper Institute standards for public safety employees and the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions (MPCTC). These minimum acceptable passing scores fall well within averages of previous physical fitness testing conducted by the Gaithersburg Police Department. Each component will be demonstrated prior to administration. All applicants must pass each category listed below to successfully complete this physical fitness test.

• 10 push-ups in one minute;
• 15 sit-ups in one minute;
• 18:00 minute 1.5 mile run;
• 80 seconds 300 meter run;
• Climb over a barrier;
• Pull/drag of a 150 lb. dummy for 15 feet; and
• Traverse up and down two flights of stairs.

Oral Interview. Applicants who pass both the written examination and physical fitness test may proceed to this phase. The Interview Board will be comprised of members of the department who have been trained in this process. Applicants who pass the oral interview and are selected will be assigned to the background investigation phase.

Background Investigation. A comprehensive background investigation will be conducted on selected applicants. A background investigation is required by City of Gaithersburg ordinance and Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions (MPCTC) regulations, and will be conducted by sworn officers trained in investigative techniques.

Offer of Employment. If all tests, examinations, and background investigation matters are completed successfully, the City of Gaithersburg will provide selected candidates with an employment offer which will include the anticipated employment start date.

As a Police Cadet, you will:

• Learn and receive instruction on the City of Gaithersburg Police Department's organization, chain of command, and rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Participate in classroom and field training to learn law enforcement principles, departmental procedures, and community policing strategies.
• Observe and assist during patrol operations, traffic control, and community engagement activities.
• Shadow officers during calls for service, investigations, and special assignments for learning purposes.
• Provide administrative, technical, or other clerical tasks in support of department functions and services when not attending ride-alongs; work may include, but is not limited to, routine office assistance such as filing, copying, faxing, and scanning documents; answering a multi-line telephone; providing assistance or routine information to callers or visitors to the Police Department; performing data entry tasks; maintaining police related records; conducting research; and preparing reports.
• Report all contact with law enforcement officers.
• Participate in special training programs as assigned.

To apply for the Police Cadet position, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (at the time of hire).
• Have the ability to lawfully become employed in the United States.
• Possess a valid driver's license and good overall driving record.
• Be in excellent physical and mental condition as determined by comprehensive examinations.
• Be able to meet the established vision standards required to successfully perform police officer tasks including passing tests for color vision (including a 14-panel Ishihara Vision Test for color blindness), acuity, binocularity, stereopsis (depth perception), and other vision skills.
• Have graduated from an accredited high school, or possess a high school diploma recognized by the Maryland Department of Education or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
• Be of good moral character, with no felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions for which a sentence of imprisonment for one year or more could have been imposed.
• Not be a current user of illegal drugs.
• Pass a comprehensive background check.
• Be attending or will attend (as soon as eligible) an accredited community college, college, or university in an area of concentration that will prepare you for a law enforcement career; classes are not limited to criminal justice programs.
• Be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Please Note: If you wish to become a Police Officer you will have to be (1) a United States citizen; or (2) a permanent legal resident of the United States and an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (provided that U.S. citizenship has been applied for and the application is still pending at the time of appointment as a Police Officer).

Applications will be screened for employment eligibility by the City of Gaithersburg and applicants will be informed as to whether or not they are eligible to move forward in the selection process. The recruitment and selection process establishes a standing eligibility list for future Department vacancies; positions are filled based on operational needs. Please review the Gaithersburg Police Department's Recruitment page on the City website for more information. Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.