Aspiring Cops Get Hands-On Training in Cadet Program

Aspiring police officers are ready to receive hands-on training in New Baltimore.

Police Chief Tim Wiley introduced the new class of cadets Monday night to the public at the City Council meeting. 

Earlier in the day, Wiley said the cadets stand apart from past groups because many have obtained college degrees, from associates to a master's. The chief attributed the change to economic times in which well-qualified people are competing for jobs. In the past, cadets typically were high school grads starting their higher education while working in the $8-an-hour positions on reports and manning the front desk.

Four cadets will serve the department full-time while four others will be on staff for summer. They will do mostly clerical duties, such as answer phones at the police station.

Clinton Township resident Matt Lesperance, 21, said the cadet program provides a rare opportunity in the area for aspiring police to gain invaluable training.

"The more I come to work each day, it's better for me," Lesperance said. "Seeing it firsthand is better than learning it from the book."

The Ferris State student at Macomb Community College's University Center said he waited nearly a year for a position to open up in the program.

L'Anse Creuse North High School graduate and MCC student Justin Noland, 23 of Chesterfield Township, said he decided to follow his childhood dream of becoming a cop after seeing an accident rescue on I-94 near Shook.

"I saw a police officer pull a gentleman out of a car," he said.

Noland said of the cadet opportunity in the city, "This is an excellent, excellent program. It's very renown for getting experience and putting it on your resume."

Full-time cadets are:

• Andrew Gizowski
• Matthew Lesperance
• Megan Pohl
• Christopher Stimage

Summer cadets are:

• Keith Pethke
• Nicholas Calandra
• Justin Noland
• Brandi Kelley