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Springfield Township police say Explorer and cadet programs help recruit and retain officers
Summary
Peterson credits the police exploring and cadet programs with launching careers, including his own, and highlights department emphasis on training and opportunities that keep officers in township service.
Captain Nick Peterson recounted that his involvement in the Springfield Township police exploring program and later as the department's first cadet helped him pursue law enforcement: "I applied for [the cadet program] and was fortunate enough to be hired as the 1st police cadet for Springfield Township." He said hands-on opportunities and mentoring were decisive in his choosing to remain with the department.
Peterson described taking roles in field training, firearms instruction, the START tactical team, and supervisory work in investigations and the impact unit. He emphasized that offering varied career paths and training opportunities is a retention strategy: "There was so many different areas of opportunity within the township that, there was no reason for me to leave."
