Hi to other fellow bankers who get confused by numbers and timelines!
I can't add much to the timeline discussion, and both of my examples are from 5 to 10 years ago. One is a friend's ex-husband so I can't ask him.
My friend's husband left the Navy after 4 or 5 years due to family obligations. He was a 4.0 in electrical engineering in college. I think he was also ROTC. He did enter as an officer, and there appeared to be an open door/come on back policy when he left. He had six figures saved so he traveled the world for a year or two. But, he never went back. I believe Goren could have some money saved after knowing this guy. He went to school on full scolarhip and saved money like a fiend in college and in the military. He didn't make much, but he invested wisely. I worked with two or three bank examiners who were the same way.
Within a year or two of joining the Navy, he said he didn't have much in common with the other officers and it could get very lonely. His dad had been an officer in the Navy and was now a lawyer. So, he felt he had to do it for a while. His dad was just proud that he served four years.
I also used to have a friend who was a SWAT officer several years ago. As part of his job (at slow times), he went and did interviews and background checks regarding military (mostly MPs) wanting to join the police department. This probably isn't news to anyone on this board, so feel free to skip the rest.
There was some sort of benefit in terms of pension and career track for the military candidates. I don't think they got full credit, but one could retire at 16 years with all the benefits of 20 years at the PD. I think you had to have at least four years in military to get this credit and I think the minimum amount of time to retire from the PD was 16 years, regardless of how much military service. It was just a sort of "little bonus" for the military training. The lieutenant of the SWAT team said he preferred to deal with ex-military guys because they could take orders. No one ever went right into SWAT, but there was a "fast track". I never asked if there was a fast track to detective.
Some of the military were also fast track for undercover or narcotics. I think some of the narcotics guys were pulled in pretty quickly (right out of training), especially if they were assigned to a high school. I had another two paragraphs on that, but this is too long!
Back to the subject matter. My SWAT friend actually joined the Cadets at 19. I went out to the website and copied it. Probably all PDs have this program. I looked at NYPD and it does as well. My friend's pension was based on starting at the age of 19, so our discussion of why there were so many military candidates for the police department were based on that comparison. The KCK website also gives consideration to prison guards (it's on the website).
A lot of the military candidates had less than 20 years. There were a few guys in their late 30s who joined the police department after retiring from the military. It was more common to become a teacher if you had the full 20 in.
It was usually people in their 20s who didn't like the direction their career was going, whose family were cops, wanted a stable home, etc. The police force in question had a regular policy of allowing 20 hours a week of off-duty work. At $20 to $25/hour, this provided a supplement for a young officer that a non-officer military career track couldn't offer. Another benefit to military time was that it meant you had more vacation time too (if I remember correctly).
I'm interested in the timeline, the hatches, etc. I must have missed the first discussion on the other board. I don't remember the particular issue discussed. I just remember it got a little uncomfortable sometimes. I tended not to read the board during those times.
Sorry for the long discussion. I don't think Goren would have been a cadet since he was military. Here's the copy from the KCK website:
Established in 1970
The Cadet Program
Comprehensive
Academics
Discipline
Education
Training
In the Beginning
The first Cadet Unit was organized on June 1, 1970 under the direct command of Chief Boston Daniels and Captain Jack Jones.
On November 1, 1970 the first 10 Cadets were appointed by the Board of City Commissioners.
Funding & Training
The Cadet Unit was funded by 2 federal grants totaling $92,000.
The cadets attended a 170-hour Cadet School after which they were assigned various duties throughout the Department.
Cadet Program Honors
The Cadet Program was honored as the Most Outstanding and Successful Program funded by the Governor’s Committee on Criminal Administration for 1970-1971.
In 1972 the KCKPD Cadet Unit was awarded a second grant in the amount of $64,254.87.
Department Orientation
The first assignments included tours of duty in Communications, Identification, the Booking Desk, and Records.
Members of the department were skeptical at first about the “kid police” but the cadet unit quickly proved itself.
Cadet Involvement
In 1970 & 1971 the cadets made 89 public appearances to civic organizations. The topics included drug awareness, the Police Department and the Police Cadet Program.
The cadets spoke to 3,189 adults and over 8,000 youth. These interactions were an early predecessor of today’s Community Policing.
Changes in the Cadet Unit - 1973
The Cadet Unit was expanded with the hire of 10 new cadets to 25 members in the Unit.
July of 1973 three new units were added to the Cadets tour of duty, the Helicopter Unit, the Traffic Division, and the District Car Observer.
By May of 1976 - 32 of the former Cadets had been promoted to Patrolman.
Department Acceptance
In May of 1976 the Cadet tours of Duty expanded from the original 4 Units to 19 Units available for Cadets to be assigned.
3 Decades of Experience
Since 1970 The KCKPD Cadet Unit has introduced almost 200 Cadets to the experiences of the Police Department.
Many of those Cadets have chosen to make Law Enforcement a life long career.
Molding A Career
The Cadet Unit encourages eligible youths of our community to become involved in public service while building the knowledge to develop a lasting career.
The program promotes both emotional and intellectual development of each Cadet through the law enforcement discipline.
Commendations
Former members of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Cadet Unit have been the recipients of a number of prestigious Awards from not only the KCKPD, but from many outside organizations.
The Department facilitates outstanding work ethic and dedication to duty.
Program Requirements
Cadets must be 17 1/2 years old and have a high school diploma or G.E.D. to be eligible for employment.
Until 2002 Cadets could not be older than 19 1/2 to be eligible. In 2002 the age requirement was extended to 22 years old.
Education
Cadets gain unlimited knowledge during each tour of duty including management skills, computer skills and organizational abilities.
Cadets are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 college credit hours while maintaining an overall GPA of 2.5.
Physical Fitness
Cadets are required to attend mandatory physical fitness sessions.
The physical fitness regimen includes circuit training and a daily 7 routine.
Police Cadet Pledge
I will let common sense guide my judgment, and courtesy control my action, be ready to serve the public interest staunchly and fearlessly 24 hours each day, avoid temptation to seek personal gain from the knowledge gained through my position, act always as a model to youth, a source of friendship and - a modern example of old fashioned integrity.
I will support the Constitution and Laws of the United States and the State of Kansas so help me God.
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