Young people who are between the ages of 14 and 20 and who are interested in law enforcement have the opportunity to learn about police work and take part in public safety events by joining the Public Safety Cadets.

Table of Contents

Overview

The Public Safety Cadets (formerly known as Explorers Post 1658) was established in 1986 for young people interested in law enforcement and community service. Meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of every month between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at North Point High School in Waldorf.

Public Safety Cadets participate in community service events, fingerprinting assignments, traffic and crowd control assignments, neighborhood crime watch events and other activities. Other opportunities include ride-alongs with CCSO officers, an annual awards banquet and group trips to local sporting events, amusement parks, and area parks and attractions. Public Safety Cadets have also traveled to New York through an Exchange program with the New York City Police Department.

Public Safety Cadet Qualifications

Public Safety Cadets applicants must:

  • Be between 14 and 21 years of age and have completed the eighth grade or be at least 15 years of age regardless of school grade
  • Be enrolled in school, have graduated from high school or have attained a GED. If enrolled in school, the Public Safety Cadet must maintain a grade average of “C” or higher
  • Maintain good moral character and be a responsible citizen in the community with a good reputation
  • Maintain an appearance and demeanor in compliance with the standards and policy of the Unit and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office
  • Have full approval of parents or guardian and assurance of their support and cooperation
  • Successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check.

Applicants must not have been denied membership or have been involuntarily terminated from the Unit within the previous six months.

Public Safety Cadets Values and Principals Statement

The following core values and principals are the foundation of our program and instilled in all program activities.

Fair and impartial public safety services to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex or religion, and a respect for diversity and the rule of law.

Training programs, practical experiences, and activities that not only better prepare young adults for a public safety career, but also emphasize the role of first responders in a democratic society.

Preparing the next generation of public safety professionals through development programs that emphasize the concept of “servant leadership”.

Community engagement and support are critical to successfully achieving the mission of public safety organizations. Engaging young adults through agency sponsors to work collaboratively with citizens and community organizations will help strengthen relationships, build trust and resolve issues for the well-being of the community.

Public safety organizations must be committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in all aspects of their operations and services. Integrity, fairness, impartiality, courtesy, respect, and compassion are essential character traits. Public safety professionals must be committed to these traits in providing the highest quality services to the community they serve.

Public safety professionals are accountable to the public they serve and are held to a higher standard of conduct than other members of the community. They must reflect the values and virtues of good citizenship in both their personal and professional lives as set forth in their professional code of conduct (i.e. The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics).

How To Join

Qualified individuals interested in joining the Public Safety Cadets should plan to attend two meetings. At the first meeting, the applicant will receive an application form to complete and return at the second meeting. A review board, which consists of the Unit’s Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant and Corporal; a Unit Officer; and a Unit Mentor, will then conduct an interview. Upon acceptance, the applicant will be placed on a three-month-long probationary status. During the probation period, the applicant must complete 10 hours of community service and may not have any pending disciplinary actions. Once the applicant has completed probation, he or she will be eligible for rank promotions. If two Public Safety Cadets or one Public Safety Cadet and an Mentor vote against the applicant’s acceptance, the applicant will be asked to reapply in six months.

If you have questions regarding the Public Safety Cadets, please e-mail the Unit Mentor, PFC Gregory Cook, at publicsafetycadets@ccso.us .

Rank Structure

Explorer Post 1658 consists of the following ranks:

  • Public Safety Cadet 1
  • Public Safety Cadet 2
  • Public Safety Cadet First Class
  • Corporal
  • Sergeant
  • Lieutenant
  • Unit President

Requirements for Public Safety Cadet 1

  • Must be voted in by the Entrance Board consisting of qualified voting members of the Unit
  • Must complete 10 hours of community service

Requirements for Public Safety Cadet 2

  • Must complete the three-month probation period without incident
  • Must complete 20 hours of community service

Requirements for Public Safety Cadet First Class

  • Must be a member of the Unit in good standing for at least four months
  • Must complete 30 hours of community service
  • Must attend at least 70 percent of meetings within the previous three months
  • Must be ride-along certified as per the Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s Administrative and Operational Manual

Requirements for Corporal (Squad Leaders)

  • Must be a member of the Unit in good standing for at least six months
  • Must have attended at least 75 percent of the meetings within the previous three months
  • Must have completed at least two ride-alongs as a Public Safety Cadet First Class and completed a two-page report on a topic approved by a Unit Mentor
  • Must complete 20 hours of community service
  • Must obtain a score of at least 70 percent on a written exam

Requirements for Sergeant

  • Must be a member of the Unit in good standing for at least six months
  • Must have attended at least 80 percent of the meetings within the previous four months
  • Must compose a 10-minute speech about a police-related topic approved by a Unit Mentors, and the speech must obtain a passing grade from all Mentors
  • Must complete at least three ride-alongs as a Corporal, and papers noting each call and notes from each report must be submitted to the Mentor at the beginning the meeting following the ride-along
  • Must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0
  • Must obtain the Crime Prevention Ribbon
  • Must be a squad leader or in another Unit leadership position for at least two months in good standing
  • Must obtain a 70 percent on a written exam

Requirements for Lieutenant

  • Must be a member of the Unit in good standing for at least six months
  • Must have attended at least 80 percent of the meetings within the previous six months
  • Must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0
  • Must score at least 70 percent on a 50– to 100-question test on Unit bylaws, training topics and other police-related fields
  • Must organize and supervise three community service activities, which must be approved by the Mentors
  • Must complete at least four ride-alongs as a Sergeant and must submit a paper explaining what happened each night