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In contrast, the Cadet position is geared toward the readying of the cadet for a police <br />officer position with the department. Therefore, the cadet would be guided by the Field <br />Training Program Sergeant, participate in ride alongs, and complete tasks that would <br />compliment the training requirements of a police officer. In that way, the cadet would <br />theoretically accomplish the police officer training phase more quickly upon being licensed as a <br />police officer with the SAPD. <br />Discussion <br />Attracting new and qualified police officer candidates is extremely competitive in the <br />current climate. At the time of this proposal writing, per the MN POST Board website, there are <br />162 police agencies around the State of MN seeking applicants for at least one position, though <br />many are seeking multiple. Many of the agencies in the metropolitan area are offering better <br />incentives than the SAPD, to include higher pay, a hiring bonus, and more opportunities for <br />growth in larger agencies. <br />The SAPD has had success in officer retention, as many current officers have enjoyed <br />the community and culture of the agency and have elected to spend their career in St. Anthony. <br />A challenge in the current hiring crisis is letting applicants experience firsthand what separates <br />SAPD from other agencies and makes us a preferred place to spend a career. This has been a <br />challenge for other police agencies as well, and has led several of these agencies to provide <br />educational and tuition payment assistance to attract current law enforcement students. This is <br />commonly known as a Cadet Program. <br />There are a number of police agencies who are currently operating a cadet program, <br />which includes: Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Bloomington, St. Louis Park, <br />Brooklyn Park, Carver County, and Minneapolis. The majority of these agencies offer tuition <br />assistance, typically paying for the cadet’s Professional Skills Program, though Minnetonka and <br />Plymouth will pay for two full years of schooling. The pay ranges from approximately $21.00 to <br />$27.00. Each department has contractual language, which typically indicates when and how the <br />position will terminate, the city’s commitment to promote the cadet to the police officer <br />position within 12 months of the cadet being eligible, and circumstances in which the city must <br />be reimbursed for the paid tuition, among other things.