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Posted by: kwflatbed

By David Pendered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATLANTA — The students in Atlanta's Police Cadet Program arrive with dreams of a career in law enforcement, and the Police Department hopes enough of them will stay to help fill a recruiting gap.
Atlanta has about 125 vacancies in the Police Department, including 50 positions to be created later this year. But the department is struggling to get to its sworn strength of almost 1,850 officers because so many new hires simply replace officers who have left. The cadet program is one of several attempts to fill all the jobs. Other efforts include a 5.5 percent pay hike for police officers that takes effect July 1.
"A lot of kids think police officers just drive around and knock on doors, but we have a wide range of duties and responsibilities," said police Officer Milton Dodson, who oversees the cadets. "We want them to see and experience all aspects of the Police Department."
About 35 cadets have been through the program since it was created three years ago. Two were hired to work as police officer assistants until they're old enough to apply to become police officers, Dodson said.
Bruce Carter, 20, is getting to see the hostility some Atlanta residents have for their Police Department. Carter, who's studying for his bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Westwood College in Midtown and has visions of working for the FBI, works 20 hours a week in the internal affairs division.
Part of his job is to take complaints about officers' conduct. Carter said many people mention the shooting death in November of Kathryn Johnston, an elderly woman killed in her home by narcotics officers serving a drug warrant. Two officers pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and to federal allegations they conspired to violate her civil rights. A third officer was indicted on lesser charges, which he is contesting.
"People say, 'I hate Atlanta police officers because they shot that old lady to death,' " Carter said. "I let them say what they have to say and try to keep my cool and keep going."
Daniel Horne Jr., 19, rode with an officer through parts of southwest Atlanta, where some residents are complaining of a rise in property and violent crime. He plans to join the Marines and then work for the FBI or CIA. Officer Fred Scott took him on a tour that included a foot patrol through Greenbriar Mall, where three people — one of them a security guard — were shot in March during a robbery.
"First, Officer Scott took me to a gas station, telling me to make sure nobody acted a fool there," Horne said. "Then he took me to Greenbriar Mall ... and we walked inside the mall to make sure no one was doing anything wrong."
Tiequencia Ross, 27, is taking fingerprints, mostly of applicants for city jobs. She came from Baton Rouge, La., to study criminal justice at Bauder College and hopes to become an Atlanta homicide detective. She said she wants to help people, especially the families of victims. Ross said her work as a cadet and student has helped her solve one criminal matter.
"I watch 'CSI' and 'Law and Order' and they have lots of made-up stuff," Ross said. " 'CSI' always solves the case, and that's just not true, so 'Law and Order' is more factual. But real life always beats TV."
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