| Home Department Organization D.A.R.E. Program Get Involved Questions Get Involved As a community policing agency, the Sedalia Police provide various opportunities for citizens to become involved with the Department. To participate in any of these programs, applicants must be of good morale character, meet the appropriate age requirements, be free of major felony convictions and abide by the Department's Professional Conduct Regulations. Available programs include :
[Cadet Program - Ages 14 - 20]
[Citizens Police Academy - Ages 18 and up]
[Volunteer Service Unit - Ages 21 and up]
[Citizen Ride-Along Program - Ages 17 and up] Cadet Program This program is designed for youth ages 14-20 and works to instills in cadets a sense of community service, leadership, responsibility and knowledge of the law enforcement profession. Cadets learn to serve the community by providing assistance to business and organizations as a part of Departmental function. Individual senior cadets serve as mentors for younger cadets, instilling in them a sense of leadership and responsiblity for younger cadets. Cadet supervisors function under the direction of the Community Policing Unit. During training, cadets will make mock traffic stops and building searches, learn fingerprinting, criminal law, patrol and radio procedures and the functions of a Police Officer. At the age of 17, with parental consent, cadets are allowed to Ride-Along with officers to observe the various facets of police work. Since responsibility is a key component to the cadet unit, cadet members must volunteer at least 8 hours per month and are required to maintain at least a "C" average in school. Cadets learn about police work, attend training functions, and assist the Department in various community policing activities. [Cadet Unit Application] Citizen's Police Academy Not everything in police work is as seen on TV. Television and movies depict what the police can and cannot do and, while they make great stories, these portrayals are often inaccurate. Many people have questions about what policing involves, especially in a small community setting. To assist Sedalians in understanding the role and responsibilities of their Police force, the Department has initiated a Citizen's Police Academy. The Citizen Police Academy gives citizens of the community a chance to view police work from the inside. It introduces citizens to the Department, criminal law, investigations, traffic and the many other facets of being a Police Officer. Students who have been accepted into the Academy will be involved in a 10 week course, meeting one night per week for three hours. During this time, they will not only learn about what is involved in police work, but will also participate in mock traffic stops, evidence collection, and if able, learn some of the art of self-defense. Students may also participate in firearms training with live weapons. The final graduation exercise is the investigation of a mock crime scene. Applicants should have a sincere desire for understanding the fundamentals of police work. [Citizen's Police Academy Application] Volunteer Service Unit The Sedalia Police Department operates a Volunteer Service Unit comprised of people from all walks of life. One of the goals of the unit is to provide an opportunity to serve the community and contribute to the overall quality of life in the city. Volunteers are involved in a variety of tasks from assisting in parking enforcement and traffic monitoring to composing the Department's in-house newsletter. Volunteers range in age from 21 to 80 and assist the Department in community policing events as well as administrative matters, allowing personnel to be more effective. The unit provides opportunities to assist in administrative functions for those who wish to volunteer, but not be actively involved in the field while also allowing members wishing to be involved in community outreach to participate in limited field work. Many of the volunteers are past graduates of the Citizen's Police Academy. The unit operates under the direction of the Community Policing Coordinator. [Volunteer Service Unit Application]
Ride-Along Program One of the ways that citizens can become familiar with the Department is through our Ride-Along program. This allows citizens who are over the age of 21 to ride with a police officer and become familiar with their daily activities. A parent or guardian's signature is required for individuals between the ages of 17 and 21. The program is offered to members of the community, visiting law enforcement officers and students enrolled in a criminal justice program. Since the Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, citizens can choose a time that fits their schedule. Please allow approximately 2 weeks to receive approval to participate in this program. [Ride-Along Program Application] |