The City Council recognized cadets from the Imperial Police Department’s Summer Cadet Academy, and cadets described the program’s structure and the experiences they completed.
Officer Carmen Fierro, a cadet advisor, told council the six-day academy teaches responsibility, leadership, teamwork and community service. Cadets described physical and mental challenges, teamwork exercises, drills, traffic-stop training, first aid and exposure to specialty units including canine, SWAT and investigations.
Several cadets — identified in public remarks as Cadet Ramirez, Cadet Salgado and Cadet Bustamante — spoke about phase-based training. Cadet speakers said phase 2 emphasizes teamwork and hands-on activities such as traffic stop scenarios and exposure to OC (pepper spray/pepper ball) and CS (tear gas) training; they said phase 3 will focus more on leadership and include active-shooter response scenarios.
Officer Fierro and council members praised the program’s growth and community support. Aguests and council members noted the cadets’ persistence and community engagement; staff said the cadets had a graduation ceremony and social events, and that outreach to schools and community events will continue.