THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607090116
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 92 lines
Nick Meroni had to make a choice: play football his senior year or become a Norfolk police department cadet.
It didn't take long for this Maury High School student to decide.
``This is a career step,'' said Meroni, 17. ``It's a great way to find out if you'll like being a police officer. It's good to start early. I didn't mind giving up football.''
The decision also was made easier by a few perks built into the newly established program. As a cadet, Meroni would be guaranteed a job, both as a student in high school and upon successfully completing the police academy. Plus, as an employee of the city, he would be eligible to receive two free years of college tuition.
``It was the college that did it,'' he said.
Like Meroni, Amy Armstrong jumped at the chance to become a police cadet when she heard about the program's benefits.
``The thing that got me was the college,'' said Armstrong, a 16-year-old Norview High student whose parents are both police officers. Armstrong plans a career in the law.
``I have three sisters, and my parents couldn't afford college for all of us,'' she said. ``Now, I don't have to save up any money for college; I can use the money I make for spending money.''
Initiated at the request of the Norfolk City Council in 1994, the program is a partnership between the police department and school system. The first cadets were hired in 1995. Six students are currently enrolled in the program.
``It's a great opportunity for young people,'' said Joe O'Brien, a former FBI agent who now coordinates the program for the police department. ``But it's a big commitment. It's not for everybody. We're asking these young people to make a career choice early in their lives . . . and we're holding them up to the same standards as any other recruit.''
Getting into the program is selective. Students must have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average, be a junior or senior enrolled in a Norfolk public or private school, and have no criminal record or history of drug problems. They're subjected to a polygraph exam, background investigation, drug screening, medical exam and interview before a board of educators, police officers and city human resource staff.
If selected, however, they receive basic training in CPR, first aid, defense tactics and the department's rules and procedures. They learn the communications system, driving regulations and reporting system and become certified to conduct state vehicle registration checks. Although they watch officers practice on the shooting range, they don't handle firearms as cadets.
After training, the cadets are put to work - not as law enforcement officers - but as civilian employees helping out in various operational activities. In rotating shifts throughout the department, they tackle clerical duties, man hot lines, work in dispatch, conduct background checks, help in crime prevention programs and direct traffic.
Not only a benefit to the students, the program is also bringing bright young people to the department at an early age.
``These teens are not going to be doing law enforcement duties . . . but freeing up officers so they can be on the street, where we need them,'' O'Brien explained. ``After training, they'll be able to do many of the support jobs behind the scenes that operational officers do. We're not only getting work out of them, but we're also getting sharp people into law enforcement.''
While still in high school, the cadets work 16 hours a month in various departments, tackling different jobs. During the summer between their junior and senior years, they work full time for eight weeks.
After graduation, they're employed full time and receive a salary and benefits. They're also required to attend a college of their choice for two years, taking at least six credit hours per semester. After that, they're eligible to enter the police academy's 21-week program.
Upon reaching 21 and successfully completing the academy, they can be sworn in as officers.
``It's just a different way to come into the position of police officer,'' said O'Brien, who works in the department's training division. ``As long as the cadets move through the process successfully, they will get a position as a police officer.''
Those electing to withdraw from the program, however, are required to repay the tuition.
But for the teens in the program so far, that tuition is the grail that initially brought them in.
Said 16-year-old Ariano Munden: ``Getting college paid for and having a steady job were the determining factors for me. But then, to get a chance to help people, too. I figured this was a great deal.'' MEMO: Norfolk juniors or seniors interested in becoming a police
department cadet can call O'Brien at 664-6902 for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by GARY C. KNAPP
The tuition offer drew 16-year-old Ariano Munden. Then he realized
he liked the chance to help people, too.
Norview High School's Amy Armstrong jumped at the chance to become a
police cadet. by CNB