Indiana University Police Department’s Cadet Officer Program allows full-time IU students to work in the criminal justice system and in a law enforcement agency while pursuing their degree. The program typically takes two years to complete.
Training the next generation of law enforcement
The Cadet Officer Program, which includes participation in the Indiana University Police Academy, provides comprehensive and unique law enforcement training which, coupled with the university's educational programs, produces a highly qualified, experienced, and educated law enforcement professional.
The Indiana University Police Academy provides comprehensive law enforcement training to produce highly qualified, career-ready professionals. Photos by James Brosher, Indiana University
IU's Cadet Officer Program made history as the first program in the U.S. to allow full-time students to earn a college degree and become a certified police officer in the state of Indiana.
Indiana University Police Academy
The IU Police Academy was developed by the IU Police Department, and is a satellite academy of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Graduates of the IU Police Academy, like graduates of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, receive accreditation as a state-certified law enforcement officer with full police authority.
IU students in the academy receive education and training on more than 90 topics, totaling over 600 hours of instruction with more than 16 examinations. Some of the material covered includes federal and state laws, individual rights, investigation procedures, physical tactics, medical aid, emergency vehicle operations, and numerous others.
In 2023, the IU Police Academy honored its 50th class of graduates and brought together hundreds of alumni for reunion that celebrated its rich history.
Learn more about the nation's first higher education police academy
1972year the cadet officer program began
1stprogram nationally to allow students to work as police officers
1,471number of graduates from the IU Police Academy since it began
Raising the standard for today's law enforcement
Description of the video:
Student 1: The motto is raising the standard, being the change.
Student 2: We're breaking old habits and using our knowledge from the academy and remembering our motto and applying that into the real world.
Student 3: My purpose or reason behind going into law enforcement was because I wanted to make a difference. And I knew the only way to do so was to raise the standard in what policing is today.
Student 4: And we recognize that the community is trying to speak to us. And we thought we heard that right away. And we wanted to live by the standard that people expect of us, which is a raised standard.
Student 2: We're treating things differently and gaining more awareness. That would be beneficial to our careers once we get out.
Student 5: If all academies were like the IU Police Academy, I feel like it'd be great because we're learning about so many different things that I feel like other academies maybe aren't learning.
Student 6: I think going to help make me better in the law enforcement profession generally. But I also believe that the classes we're receiving is just going to make everyone in the class, myself included, just a better citizen.
Student 7: The motto in my head is, no matter where we go, we're going to take this expectation with us, and effect, our departments that we work for.
Student 2: Since we want to be the change, we're going to be the ones to initiate it.
Each student speaks in turn: Raising the standard, raising the standard, raising the standard. Being the change, being the change.
All students together: 1,2,3 raising the standard, being the change.
Why join the Cadet Officer Program?
Officers who graduate from the Cadet Officer Program and the university will enter the job market in the enviable position of having a college degree, academy training, and actual work experience.
Though students are normally enrolled in an academic concentration related to criminal justice, any field of study is acceptable. In addition, some academic departments award credit for participation in the program. Finally, the officer, while working with IU Police Department, may develop career opportunities and contacts with other agencies.
Graduates of the program hold positions with agencies such as: the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshal's office, DEA, ATF, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Columbus PD, Noblesville PD, South Bend PD, Fort Wayne PD, and many other departments in the state of Indiana and the United States.
Cadets are paid an hourly rate of $15 per hour. Upon completion of the police academy, officers can work part time at a rate of $17 per hour while earning their degree as an IU student.
Who is eligible to apply to the Cadet Officer Program?
In order to be eligible to apply for the program and to graduate from the Police Academy you must:
- Be or become a U.S. citizen prior to graduating from the Police Academy
- Be at least 21 years old the year you would graduate from the Police Academy
- Be a full-time student in good academic standing. You must maintain full-time student status and have above a 2.5 G.P.A. while in the program.
- Have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions
- Possess a valid automobile operator’s license
- Pass a battery of physical and psychological tests
- Pass an intensive background investigation
- Have no major sensory impediments
How to apply
To apply for the Cadet Officer Program, contact Indiana University Police Department located on your campus or go to Jobs@IU. Applications are accepted October through February. Eligible applicants are interviewed during the spring semester and cadets are selected in April of each year. Those selected will attend cadet training in August, just prior to the start of the fall semester.
Cadet duties
After successfully completing the training, each cadet will return to his or her campus and perform those duties that do not require police authority. All cadets are briefed in policies of the department and the organization where they are assigned to work. They can enforce those policies as directed, but must call for sworn officers to arrest or detain people.
After the first year as a cadet
After successful completion of the cadet year and during the first and second summer sessions, cadets are eligible to attend the IU Police Academy.
After graduation from the IU Police Academy, the cadets are commissioned as officers will full police authority. They then return to their campuses to continue part-time work as a police officer for 12-20 hours a week until they graduate from IU. Hourly wages are paid for formal training and for position duties during the year.
Questions? Reach out to us.
Campus coordinators can answer your questions about the program and connect students with other students in the program for insights.
General inquiries - pdpa@iu.edu
Indiana University Police Academy (IU Public Safety)
Maj. Stephen N. Luce - sluce@iu.edu
IU Bloomington
Sgt. David Wilson - wilsdaro@iu.edu
IU Indianapolis
Sgt. Amanda Botts - ambotts@iu.edu
IU Columbus
Officer Claudia Darrow - ccscharr@iu.edu
IU East
Officer Todd Barker - rtbarker@iu.edu
IU Kokomo
Officer Todd Hill - tdhill@iu.edu
IU Northwest
Lt. Brian Ray - raybr@iu.edu
IU Southeast
Officer Claudia Darrow - ccscharr@iu.edu
IU South Bend
Officer Jordan Felten - jtfelten@iusb.edu