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Boston Police Cadets

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Posted by: Killjoy

Any thoughts as to if this program is a success or is it simply a backdoor way to get into the BPD? How exactly are cadets hired? How many are in a typical academy class? Do other departments in Mass or any state have similar programs?


Posted by: soxrock75

Quote:
Originally Posted by Killjoy View Post
Any thoughts as to if this program is a success or is it simply a backdoor way to get into the BPD? How exactly are cadets hired? How many are in a typical academy class? Do other departments in Mass or any state have similar programs?
From what I understand, it is very political. There is an entry level test but I believe it is a Pass/Fail so that they can pick who they want. As far as the academy goes, 1/3 of the slots have to be cadets.

Just to give you an example of how political it is, when the last class graduated and were sent out to the streets early for the holidays(Newbury Street & Downtown Crossing etc.), many former cadets were given indoor assignements at HQ.


Posted by: 94c

Quote:
Originally Posted by Killjoy View Post
Any thoughts as to if this program is a success or is it simply a backdoor way to get into the BPD? How exactly are cadets hired? How many are in a typical academy class? Do other departments in Mass or any state have similar programs?
Can't speak for Boston but we employ about 20 cadets.

They are hired off an exam that is usually given annually.
(Based on the need)

They fill lots of inside positions like, 911 calltakers, traffic, firearms, records. (mostly clerical)

They do not have absolute preference. After you deal with the vets, and placing a minority in 1 out of every 4 slots, next comes the cadets.

The big benefit or detriment, depending on the cadet, is that he gets his foot in the door. If he has his act together then it makes hiring him/her so much easier.

We've had cops family members become cadets. Some have made it and others have not.

From the department's point of view, you get to see what type of employee you have for several years before you reach the stage in hiring him or not.

Many have left the field all together or gone on to different PD's. Our cadets max out at age 24. So if they don't get hired by then they have to move on.

You only keep the cadet preference if you get hired while still being a cadet. (You couldn't claim the preference if, say you were hired at 26, after having moved on.)

Hope this helps.

Quote:
Originally Posted by soxrock75 View Post
Just to give you an example of how political it is, when the last class graduated and were sent out to the streets early for the holidays(Newbury Street & Downtown Crossing etc.), many former cadets were given indoor assignements at HQ.
How can getting hired as a cop, and getting stuck in an inside position, be considered something favorable?

But then again, we have our share of house mouses.

If you think being stuck inside is a coveted position as a rookie then you are a house mouse.

When I came on this job I dreaded when the old timers took their vacations. It meant the rookie got stuck inside.

But then again, we do have a new breed of cop coming out of these academies.


Posted by: D421

Quote:
Originally Posted by soxrock75 View Post
From what I understand, it is very political. There is an entry level test but I believe it is a Pass/Fail so that they can pick who they want. As far as the academy goes, 1/3 of the slots have to be cadets.

Just to give you an example of how political it is, when the last class graduated and were sent out to the streets early for the holidays(Newbury Street & Downtown Crossing etc.), many former cadets were given indoor assignements at HQ.
It is not as political as it once was when the city had the consent decree. Over the past two years, many have foregone the cadet program and have been hired directly off of the CS list. The city has had two cadet tests and classes over that time so that tells you how difficult it has been to find enough people willing to try the program. Not alot of people know about it, hence the person asking about the cadet program. Most of the people that do know about it work for the police department. It is helpful after getting on and having the inside knowledge of the department. Some use the connections to go to a district station that they want or have worked at before, others simply go on their merry way and follow whatever path is given to them. I know this, after many years on, if you have the ability to use your "juice" to get something you want, I would use it because others wll do the same.

As far as new classes coming out of the academy and former cadets being assigned to HQ, I have seen the personnel order that came out after the class finished the academy around Thanksgiving and that is downright not the truth that was posted above. Why would any brand new officer want to be chained to a desk at HQ with all the scrutiny when they could walk Newbury St during the Xmas season. I don't know where that information came from but it is patently false. Also, I am not a former cadet.


Posted by: Mstr.Gunz.

I'm not a wiz on the topic, but Amherst has a Police Cadet program for the students on the UMass campus as well. I'm hoping to get on there my freshman year, but I was told that I may not be able to take the 2 week class required this summer in order to do it this year, so I would have to wait until next summer to do it my sophomore year.


Posted by: soxrock75

Quote:
Originally Posted by D421 View Post
It is not as political as it once was when the city had the consent decree. Over the past two years, many have foregone the cadet program and have been hired directly off of the CS list. The city has had two cadet tests and classes over that time so that tells you how difficult it has been to find enough people willing to try the program. Not alot of people know about it, hence the person asking about the cadet program. Most of the people that do know about it work for the police department. It is helpful after getting on and having the inside knowledge of the department. Some use the connections to go to a district station that they want or have worked at before, others simply go on their merry way and follow whatever path is given to them. I know this, after many years on, if you have the ability to use your "juice" to get something you want, I would use it because others wll do the same.

As far as new classes coming out of the academy and former cadets being assigned to HQ, I have seen the personnel order that came out after the class finished the academy around Thanksgiving and that is downright not the truth that was posted above. Why would any brand new officer want to be chained to a desk at HQ with all the scrutiny when they could walk Newbury St during the Xmas season. I don't know where that information came from but it is patently false. Also, I am not a former cadet.

I never said that the indoor assignments were favorable or even desirable. As a new graduate, i would want to be out on the street learning the job. However, when faced with walking a beat all day in the cold and rain/snow for 3 weeks instead of being inside in the warmth of HQ filing papers, yes, that may seem better.

I know 4 people that graduated with that class and they all said that former cadets, some not all, were assigned to HQ.


Posted by: hunter617

The BPD Cadet Program is for anyone that lives in the city that, has an intrest in law enforcement. All you do is take the test. Yes some cadets know people(mom and daddy are captains) but there are others that dont. Several people that dont know people also get really good assignments as cadet (HQ).


Posted by: wolf9848

From what I have been told, cadets are shifted to a new assignment every 6 months.


Posted by: Edmizer1

I applied to be a cadet in Boston in the early 90s. It looked like I was going to be hired (after calling in every favor I could muster up). The mayor and city council were having a battle of who would direct traffic due to anticipated tie-ups with the coming big dig. The mayor wanted cadets to do it and the council wanted to appoint new traffic wardens like New York City has. (Actually I may have the mayor/council preferences reversed - I forget). While waiting for the actual hiring and the training class to start at the academy, I turned 23 which was the deadline at the time. I got called into police HQ to talk with human resources who handed me a copy of the law and told me they were sorry but I was being removed from the hiring list. The class went through about 3 months later. The mayor's son, Tom Menino jr., had almost the same birthday as me. He was hired for the same class but was appointed the day before his 23rd birthday. He waited at the police academy alone for 3 months waiting for the class to actually be approved. I went to high school with him and he is the nicest guy you would ever want to meet so I 'm not trying to say anything bad about him. At least at the that time, the job was very political. The Boston Globe printed an article one time which listed a class of cadets and their coincidental connections to high city officials.


Posted by: ecpd402

I also took the test in the early 90's. I had no connections. I received a letter that I had passed the exam and there were limited openings. I never got an interview. A buddy of mine took the same exam and got on. He had connections


Posted by: Grasshopper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Killjoy View Post
Any thoughts as to if this program is a success or is it simply a backdoor way to get into the BPD? How exactly are cadets hired? How many are in a typical academy class? Do other departments in Mass or any state have similar programs?
I don't think it's necessarily a backdoor way in although it does help to gain a preference. I believe approximately 1/3 of the class of classes is hired from cadets. I'm not sure how many how many are in a typical academy class but mine (the last class) did have quite a few, though I wasn't exactly counting how many. Milton, Waltham have similar programs. Other cities and towns might also.

Quote:
Originally Posted by D421 View Post
It is not as political as it once was when the city had the consent decree. Over the past two years, many have foregone the cadet program and have been hired directly off of the CS list. The city has had two cadet tests and classes over that time so that tells you how difficult it has been to find enough people willing to try the program. Not alot of people know about it, hence the person asking about the cadet program. Most of the people that do know about it work for the police department. It is helpful after getting on and having the inside knowledge of the department. Some use the connections to go to a district station that they want or have worked at before, others simply go on their merry way and follow whatever path is given to them. I know this, after many years on, if you have the ability to use your "juice" to get something you want, I would use it because others wll do the same.

As far as new classes coming out of the academy and former cadets being assigned to HQ, I have seen the personnel order that came out after the class finished the academy around Thanksgiving and that is downright not the truth that was posted above. Why would any brand new officer want to be chained to a desk at HQ with all the scrutiny when they could walk Newbury St during the Xmas season. I don't know where that information came from but it is patently false. Also, I am not a former cadet.
+1

I too am neither a cadet nor a former cadet although I was in the last class. The former cadets were some of the finest recruits! One was the guide and pushup record breaker. another was the class secretary (web site developer etc.) and almost broke the record for chin-ups! I was sent to the holiday walking beat in downtown (nighttime first halves, sometimes through last halves). AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE ABOUT MOST OF THE CADETS BEING SENT TO HEADQUARTERS! I only know of 3 people overall who were sent to headquarters upon graduation (3 of our most capable recruits...one was the secretary who had almost who had almost broken the academy chin-up record and another our vice president and valedictorian). These were top notch recruits and I can assume they are top shelf probationary officers. Only one I know for sure was a cadet. They didn't go there by choice. We go where we're ordered and do as we're told with our eyes, ears and even nose open and mouthes shut. We serve at the pleasure of our superiors and do not question our orders. I won't speak for them or what they had told me but those who went to HQ for a period of time, they weren't the types who'd want to be inside. Rummer had it that I was to be sent there I was a bit anxiety stricken that I had gone through six months of the academy after leaving a corporate position only to return to a desk. I should have relaxed, realizing that's why you don't listen to gossip!


Posted by: LA Copper

Quote:
Originally Posted by soxrock75 View Post
I never said that the indoor assignments were favorable or even desirable. As a new graduate, i would want to be out on the street learning the job. However, when faced with walking a beat all day in the cold and rain/snow for 3 weeks instead of being inside in the warmth of HQ filing papers, yes, that may seem better.

I know 4 people that graduated with that class and they all said that former cadets, some not all, were assigned to HQ.
If I'm reading this right are you saying that as soon as some recruits graduate from the academy they are assigned inside and not to an FTO on the street? I didn't know that. How can a probationer learn street police work while working the desk at headquarters, especially in a busy city like Boston?

ALL of our recruits who graduate are assigned to a division to work with an FTO for a full year. There is no inside work with the exception of a few days here and there in the latter part of their probation where they may be assigned to fill in at the front desk to take reports. Other than that, their entire year-long probation is working a patrol car learning the job.






Posted by: Grasshopper

Quote:
Originally Posted by LA Copper View Post


If I'm reading this right are you saying that as soon as some recruits graduate from the academy they are assigned inside and not to an FTO on the street? I didn't know that. How can a probationer learn street police work while working the desk at headquarters, especially in a busy city like Boston?

ALL of our recruits who graduate are assigned to a division to work with an FTO for a full year. There is no inside work with the exception of a few days here and there in the latter part of their probation where they may be assigned to fill in at the front desk to take reports. Other than that, their entire year-long probation is working a patrol car learning the job.
To answer your question (without giving away any sensitive policy or tactics), newly appointed officers may be assigned to temporary walking beats upon graduation (some have been assigned headquarters for part or all of the duration of this period). This is not regular field training (that occurs after). Our time with our FTOs seems similar to yours, "ALL of our recruits who graduate are assigned to a division to work with an FTO for a full year. There is no inside work with the exception of a few days here and there in the latter part of their probation where they may be assigned to fill in at the front desk to take reports. Other than that, their entire year-long probation is working a patrol car learning the job" although, our span of field training is for a much shorter period of time.


Posted by: LA Copper

Do they lengthen the time in training if the probationers are assigned inside?


Posted by: Grasshopper

Quote:
Originally Posted by LA Copper View Post
Do they lengthen the time in training if the probationers are assigned inside?
I'm fairly sure that neither the outdoor outdoor walking beats nor the indoor times spent at HQ were considered "time in training" so, my best guess would be no. I think any probationary officers who were assigned inside would not have their probationary periods extended because of it. Our probationary year is one full year from academy graduation. Like I said, our officers who were assigned there right after graduation, were exemplary recruits. The weren't assigned there because they requested it and I doubt they were assigned there because someone thought they weren't ready for the streets. They may have just been assigned there since they possibly had previous experience at headquarters (employment with the cadets, intelligence, operations).


Posted by: irish529

I took the Cadets test in December 15, 2008 has anyone heard about them hiring cadets for a new class?


Posted by: midwatch

just PM Grasshopper...opps, nevermind. try this instead:

http://www.masscops.com/forums/showt...hlight=academy


Posted by: Albundy

Thats pretty good Irish, you must be living in the future.




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