Police Cadet Job Type:

Full Time Gaithersburg, MD Gaithersburg Police Department Salary:

$18.78

Hourly Closing Date:

9/30/2026

Position Summary:

The Police Cadet Program serves to identify and select qualified individuals contemplating a career in the field of law enforcement and provide them with career orientation and first-hand experience to better prepare them to be a Gaithersburg Police Officer when they reach the minimum age requirements. However, a Cadet position is not a guarantee that the individual will be hired as a City Police Officer Candidate. Cadets perform a variety of hands-on administrative, technical, and other tasks supporting the functions, services, and operations of the Gaithersburg Police Department while gaining insight and awareness into a law enforcement career and various phases of law enforcement. Cadets have an opportunity to work directly with, assist, and observe sworn and civilian personnel to experience the challenges and personal rewards of a police career. Candidates should exhibit good character, sound judgment, honesty, reliability, and integrity that blend together with a philosophy for community-oriented policing, and a strong desire to serve the citizens of Gaithersburg.

Essential Functions:

Learn and receive instruction on the City of Gaithersburg Police Department's organization, chain of command, and rules, regulations, and procedures. Participate in classroom and field training to learn law enforcement principles, departmental procedures, and community policing strategies. Observe and assist during patrol operations, traffic control, and community engagement activities. Shadow officers during calls for service, investigations, and special assignments for learning purposes. Provide administrative, technical, or other clerical tasks in support of department functions and services when not attending ride-alongs; work may include, but is not limited to, routine office assistance such as filing, copying, faxing, and scanning documents; answering a multi-line telephone; providing assistance or routine information to callers or visitors to the Police Department; performing data entry tasks; maintaining police related records; conducting research; and preparing reports. Report all contact with law enforcement officers. Participate in special training programs as assigned.

Requirements:

Be at least 18 years old (at the time of hire). Have the ability to lawfully become employed in the United States. Possess a valid driver's license and good overall driving record. Be in excellent physical and mental condition as determined by comprehensive examinations. Be able to meet the established vision standards required to successfully perform police officer tasks including passing tests for color vision (including a 14-panel Ishihara Vision Test for color blindness), acuity, binocularity, stereopsis (depth perception), and other vision skills. Have graduated from an accredited high school, or possess a high school diploma recognized by the Maryland Department of Education or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Be of good moral character, with no felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions for which a sentence of imprisonment for one year or more could have been imposed. Not be a current user of illegal drugs. Pass a comprehensive background check. Be attending or will attend (as soon as eligible) an accredited community college, college, or university in an area of concentration that will prepare you for a law enforcement career; classes are not limited to criminal justice programs. Be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

https:

//www.governmentjobs.com/careers/gaithersburgmd/jobs/5402064/police-cadet Get More Information/Apply View All Jobs Prep for Exam