Cadet Officer Program

Cadet Officer Program, IU Police Academy gives students a step up

Learn about the Cadet Officer Program from the director, IU students who took advantage of it.

Train to be an Officer

The Cadet Officer Program, normally two years in length, allows full-time Indiana University students to work in the criminal justice system and in a law enforcement agency while pursuing their degree. Completion of the Cadet Officer Program, including the IU Police Academy, provides a comprehensive and unique law enforcement training which, coupled with the university's educational programs, produces a highly qualified, experienced, and educated law enforcement professional.

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IU 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's rights, investigation procedures, physical tactics, medical aid, emergency vehicle operations, and numerous others.

1972The year the Cadet Officer Program started.

1The number of programs nationally that allow students to work as police officers.

1200The number of graduates from the IU Police Academy since its start.

Benefits of the Cadet Officer Program

Officers, who graduate the Cadet Officer Program and the university, will enter the employment field 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 the IU Police Department may establish 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.

Eligibility for the Cadet Officer Program

In order to be eligible to apply for the program and to graduate the Police Academy you must:

Be or become a U.S. citizen prior to graduating 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 2.3 GPA while in the program.
Have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions.
Possess a valid automobile operator's license.
Pass a battery of physical and pscyhological tests.
Pass an intensive background investigation.
Have no major sensory impediments.

Apply to the program

To apply for the Cadet Officer Program, contact the Indiana University Police Department located on your campus or go to Jobs@IU. Applications are accepted September 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.

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 to be briefed in policies of the department and the organization for which they are assigned to work. They can enforce those policies as directed but must call for sworn officers to arrest or detain people.

After successful completion of the cadet year and during the first and second summer sessions, cadets are eligible to attend the IU Police Academy. Upon 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 12-20 hours a week, until they graduate from IU. Hourly wages are paid for formal training and for position duties during the year.