City to start patrol cadet program

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The city of Perryville will pay for an individual to attend police academy in return for four years dedicated service as part of a new cadet training program.
The Board of Aldermen gave the program final approval Nov. 16 after city administrator Brent Buerck met with the administration of Mineral Area College at Park Hills.
“We’re not the only ones doing this,” Buerck said. “When I was at the academy, they suggested visits weekly from cities looking for law enforcement.”
Perryville is not the only municipality seeking officers throught the program.
“I thought we were plowing new ground but we’re not the only ones that are doing this,” Brent Buerck said. “Some cities have done it in the past and discontinued. Some cities are looking for ways to get started now.”

In addition to Mineral Area College, Buerck noted he has had discussions with administrators at Southeast Missouri State University and plans to meet with individual from Jefferson College in Hillsboro regarding a police cadet training program.
“It’s a tight market and they get to pick, they’re going to have multiple offers and they’re going to be able to pick which city they want to work in, Buerck said. We still believe Perryville is special and if we get them here early, we can keep them (here).”
Those that participate in the program will be required to complete at least 680 hours of training, including an average of about 16 hours per week with the Perryville police department in order to prepare for work as a road officer.
Mayor Ken Baer said a decreased enrollment of about 50 percent is not a surprise given the current environment facing law enforcement employees.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity and it’s a good program,” said Bill Jones, a major with the Perryville Police. “Everybody is fighting for officers and we have to come up with something. I think this is something that will help us at least try to recruit some officers.”
Buerck noted this new incentive program, along with the board’s recent decision of approving overtime pay, should help bolster the police department’s standing and improve the attractiveness of working for the city of Perryville’s police department.