Cadet Police Academy on Campus Next Week

Cadets stand at attention in front of University Commons during the 2011 Cadet Police Academy.

Cadets do push-ups on Alumni Plaza.

An instructor conducts drills with a group of young cadets.

Military-style drills and law enforcement training exercises will be a common sight on campus from Sunday, July 28, through Saturday, Aug. 3, as the University hosts a week-long Cadet Police Academy.

About 450 cadets, state and municipal police officers, and program administrators and trainers will be living on campus for the week. This is the fourth year that the University is hosting the Cadet Police Academy.

The cadets are young people between the ages of 13 and 21 who are interested in law enforcement. Some plan to become police officers, others may pursue careers as FBI agents or forensic scientists, and others may not go into law enforcement careers at all, but are interested in the skills and discipline that the academy provides.

The academy offers different levels of programs, depending on the cadets’ age and experience. The Basic Program for first-year cadets is “boot camp style,” and includes marching, drills, and training in such areas as teamwork, accident reconstruction, DUI investigation, arrest and control, domestic violence, crime scene investigation, search and seizure, and more. Cadets also learn to handle weapons at the Hartford Police firing range.

The more advanced programs include more in-depth classes and training exercises, as well as competitions, role playing in a wide range of scenarios, and operating a mock police department. Participants who have completed their Basic Academy training can also opt to join the Police Mountain Bike training.

Most of the training is provided by men and women who work in law enforcement. Among those who will be teaching in the academy is University of Hartford Public Safety Assistant Chief Michael Kaselouskas.

For more information on the Cadet Police Academy, go to www.cadetpoliceacademy.com.