Program Mission

To assist local law enforcement agencies in carrying out their duties while furthering our knowledge in the realm of law enforcement

  • Honor
  • Integrity
  • Commitment

What is a Police Cadet?

  • A Police Cadet is a Washington State University student working as a volunteer for the Washington State University Police Department. Cadets are non-commissioned, uniformed members of the Police Department who work with commissioned police professionals who provide supervision, training, and direction. The Cadet is a support person without regular police arrest powers.
  • Cadets will have paid opportunities for outside security work.

Qualifications

  • Enrolled as a full-time student at WSU
  • Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
  • YOUR MAJOR DOES NOT MATTER!

Hiring Process

  • Submit an official application
  • Oral board interview
  • Reference check
  • Criminal history investigation
  • Background investigation
  • Successfully complete Cadet 2 academy trainings

Training Academy

After being accepted into the WSU Police Corps, each Cadet is required to participate in a three day academy (approximately 30 hours) where the basic skills of Security, Traffic Control, Criminal Law and Patrol Procedures are learned.

Training program for Cadet 2

Core Training (Semester)

  • Radio Procedures
  • Traffic and Crowd Control
  • Ethics
  • Foot patrols/Security Checks
  • Patrol Procedures
  • Criminal Law
  • Crime Scene Investigations
  • Field Interviews
  • Drug Identification
  • Handcuffing
  • Traffic Law
  • De-escalation training
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Certification
  • Mock Scenes

Additional Training

Cadet 1 Trainings

  • Oral Board Interviews
  • Domestic Violence
  • Building Searches
  • Collision Investigation
  • Booking/Fingerprinting
  • Tactical Social Interaction
  • De-escalation Training
  • Crisis Intervention (dealing with suicidal/mental problems)
  • Traffic Stops
  • High Risk Vehicle Stops
  • DUI/SFST (Standard Field Sobriety Tests)
  • Advanced Mock Scenes

SWAT CHALLENGE

Each year a select group of Cadet 1’s will have the ability to test for additional SWAT specific trainings. These trainings include:

  • Leadership training
  • Team building
  • Team movement
  • Dynamic entries
  • Hostage Negotiation
  • Specialties
  • Scouting
  • Intelligence gathering

Cadet 2 Volunteer expectations

  • 8-12 hours of foot patrols/security checks monthly
  • Attend all meetings and trainings
  • 3 hours fingerprinting monthly
  • Work all football games
  • Monthly Volunteer Expectations- 12 hours

Cadet 1 volunteer expectations

  • Traffic direction- required football/basketball game day
  • Crowd control- Required Football/Basketball game day
  • Security at crime scenes or investigations- As needed>
  • Ride-Alongs- 8 hours Monthly
  • Bookings/Footpatrols- 3 hours monthly

Police CADET Program Structure

  • Captain (1)
    • Lieutenant (3)
      • Sergeant (5)
        • Cadet 1 (up to 30)
          • Cadet 2 (up to 70)

Cadet 2- $15.74 hourly for paid security work

After completion of training academy Cadet 2’s are eligible for promotion to Cadet 1

  • Cadet 2 Training academy is 96 hours in length and is completed over the first semester in the program or in a week preceding the Spring semester.
  • Promotion requirements
    • Pass Physical Agility test
    • Pass Academy final exam with 70% or better
    • Complete promotion interview process

Cadet 1- $16.31 hourly for paid security work

  • Continued training throughout the school year
  • Following 1 semester at Cadet 1- Eligible for promotion to command staff

Promotions/Leadership

  • Sergeant- $17.26 hourly for security work and some administrative work
    • Manages, instructs and mentors up to 20 Cadets within their squad
  • Lieutenant- $18.06 hourly for security work and administrative work
    • Manages and oversees Sergeants in carrying out their duties
  • Captain- $19.36 hourly for security work and administrative work
    • Oversees and manages entire program, trainings, events and overall functionality of the WSU Police Corps Program.
  • Work Study- $20.00 hourly for those eligible for financial aid work study.

Ride-Alongs: Sponsoring Agencies

  • Pullman City
  • Whitman Country
  • Washington State Patrol

Academic Credit

  • Criminal Justice 490
    • Sisouvanh Keopanapay
    • Johnson Tower 726
  • Anywhere between 2-12 credits
    • 2 credits= 80 hours/semester (6-7 hr/wk)
    • 3 credits= 120 hours/semester (10 hr/wk)
    • 6 credits=240 hours/semester (20 hr/wk)
    • 9 credits= 360 hours/semester (30 hr/wk)
    • 12 Credits= 480 hours/semester (40 hr/wk)

Program Benefits

  • Graduating cadets leave WSU with a head start in their law enforcement career.  Cadets learn many of the same skills that are taught in the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy and find themselves better prepared than others entering the academy.
  • Participation in the WSU Police Corps Program has proven to produce quality police officer candidates.

Former WSU Interns can be found as officers at

  • Police Department
    • WSU Police Department
    • Pullman Police Department
    • Vancouver Police Department
    • Spokane Police Department
    • Redmond Police Department
    • Bellevue Police Department
    • Everett Police Department
    • Anacortes Police Department
    • Seattle Police Department
    • Tacoma Police Department
    • Ferndale Police Department
    • Auburn Police Department
    • Mount Vernon Police Department
    • University of Washington Police Department
    • Port Angeles Police Department
    • Lake Stevens Police Department
    • Gig Harbor Police Department
    • Olympia Police Department
    • Puyallup Police Department
  • Sheriff’s Office:
    • Pierce County Sheriff’s Office
    • Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office
    • Whitman County Sheriff’s Office
    • Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
    • Benton County Sheriff’s Office
    • King County Sheriff’s Office
    • Madison County Sheriff’s Office
    • Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
    • Mason County Sheriff’s Office
    • Spokane County Sheriff’s office
  • State and Federal Agencies:
    • Washington State Patrol
    • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
    • Border Patrol
    • The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
    • Department of Corrections

WSU Campus Security is provided through the WSU Police Corps.

  • We provide foot escorts for anyone to or from WSU Campus Wednesdays-Saturdays from 8 PM to 2 AM. Call 509-432-3818.
  • To request security for an event you are planning, please call WSU Police Reception at 509-335-8548 or email police@wsu.edu.

Applications

Click hereCadet Application to apply or go to WSU Public Safety Building.

Applications accepted continuously and hires are made on a regular basis.

Questions?

  • Contact Police Corps Coordinator: Sergeant Kelly Stewart: 509-335-4408, kdstewart@wsu.edu
  • WSU Police Corps Program: 509-335-4099