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Marietta Police present revived cadet program, cite state and national competition results
Summary
Marietta Police officials presented the Public Safety Cadet Program, discussed its return after COVID, and highlighted state and national competition placements; the department aims to expand from four cadets to 20 this school year.
Marietta Police Department leaders introduced the department’s Public Safety Cadet Program to the City Council on Aug. 13, describing the program’s revival after the COVID-19 pandemic and recent competition results.
Chief David Beam and Sergeant Wesley Scott said Marietta first adopted the program in 1988; it lapsed during COVID and was re-established in 2023 as a cadet program (previously an "explorer" program). Sergeant Scott described the program as leadership development and noted that department leaders, including a deputy chief and several officers, came up through the program.
Sergeant Scott detailed competition results: a cadet finished first in a marksman competition at a state meet in Conyers, and the team placed third in a felony-stop segment at a national competition in Ontario, California, where teams from about 70 groups competed in high-stress scenarios including active-shooter and hostage-rescue exercises. "One of them, the felony stop portion of it, they finished third place overall," Scott said.
Chief Beam and Scott said the program currently includes four cadets and that the department’s goal is to enroll 20 cadets by the end of the school year. Several cadets introduced themselves to the council and identified the high schools they attend.
Council members received the presentation and were introduced to the cadets on stage. The department asked for continued council support as it grows its cadet roster and training opportunities.
