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Knoxville leaders describe cadet program as paid internship, pathway for 18‑to‑21‑year‑olds to police academy
Summary
KPD leaders told the advisory committee that the cadet program is designed as a paid internship and recruitment pipeline for local residents; cadets are paid $36,000 a year, work up to 40 hours (30 if in college, still paid for 40), are not police officers, and are not armed.
At a meeting of the Police Advisory and Review Committee, Knoxville Police Department presenters described the department’s cadet program as a paid internship designed to recruit and evaluate local candidates for future police work. Presenters emphasized that cadets are not full police officers, receive limited training, and do not carry weapons.
"It's actually really an awesome program," the chief said in describing the cadet pipeline. Department staff told the committee cadets are typically local residents who may be 18 and older; state rules mean recruits must be 21 by the time they graduate from the police academy, which the chief noted is typically six months long. "So theoretically, you could be 20 and a half and enter the police academy and then graduate when…
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