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Glendale Heights Police introduce cadet program for ages 16–20
Summary
Police Chief Pappas introduced a police cadet program aimed at residents ages 16–20 to build a recruitment pipeline; five cadets were introduced and staff said grant funding supports six positions.
Chief Pappas introduced the Glendale Heights Police Department’s new police cadet program during the Feb. 20 Village Board meeting, describing it as a recruitment and training pipeline for local young adults.
“The goal of our cadet program is to prepare young adults from our community between the age of 16 and 20 to get the training, hands on experience, mentorship, and leadership needed to eventually become police officers at our Glendale Heights Police Department,” Chief Pappas said.
Chief Pappas told the board the department offers a Junior Police Academy (grades 5–8), an Adult Citizen Police Academy in the fall and a college internship program, but officials had identified a gap for ages 16–20. He said the department began the cadet program in January, with cadets working eight hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours in the summer. Grants coordinator Jasjeet Sanghao obtained grant funding to allow six cadet positions.
Chief Pappas introduced the program’s instructors and staff support: cadet coordinator Jorge Munoz; intern coordinator Tasha Politis; School Resource Officers Paul Jimenez and Ryan Sheehan; Officer Zach Pugh; and Community Service Officer Mike Marin. He introduced five cadets by name: Brianna Captur, Logan Vance, Pedro Espinosa, Brandon Ellis and Wyatt Chambers.
No formal vote was required; Chief Pappas described the program as a departmental initiative funded in part by grant support and coordinated with high-school counselors and school resource officers for recruitment. The chief said residents will see cadets at community events as the program progresses.
