Date Opened: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 12:00 AM
Close Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026 12:00 AM
Department: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Salary: $16.00 - $16.00 Commensurate with Experience
Welcome to the City of Charlotte
Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.
Our guiding principles include:
Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce
Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development
Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services
Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems
Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions
SUMMARY
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Cadet Program is funded by a Federal Grant and is designed to recruit, develop, and prepare future CMPD police officers. Through structured training, hands-on experience, mentorship, and direct interaction with sworn personnel, College Cadets support departmental operations, youth engagement, community outreach, recruiting efforts, and special events while gaining the knowledge, skills, and professional foundation needed to successfully transition into the CMPD Police Academy and serve the community with professionalism, integrity, and excellence.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Participate in and/or lead weekly physical fitness training designed to promote wellness and prepare Cadets for the physical requirements of the CMPD Academy and a law enforcement career.
- Assist with the planning, coordination, implementation, and daily operations of CMPD youth programs, including the High and Middle School Explorers, Youth Academy, Mayor's Youth Employment Program, and other youth career development initiatives.
- Represent the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at community events, recruiting functions, career fairs, public safety demonstrations, and community engagement activities while serving as a mentor for youth participants.
- Assist with administrative projects, event logistics, registration, equipment management, assigned projects, and other duties while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, accountability, and integrity.
- Partner with City of Charlotte departments, Mecklenburg County agencies, schools, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to support collaborative problem-solving efforts that improve residents' quality of life.
- Participate in activities that provide exposure to law enforcement operations, including ride-alongs, court proceedings, departmental meetings, specialized units, patrol operations, investigations, support services, communications, crime analysis, and community engagement.
- Learn and apply CMPD directives, policies, procedures, criminal law, constitutional principles, ethical policing practices, police decision-making, report writing, legal standards, and departmental technology through classroom instruction and practical experience.
- Conduct research and deliver individual and team presentations demonstrating analytical, organizational, written, verbal communication, leadership, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and partnership-building skills developed through projects, community service, and professional development activities.
- Maintain a professional appearance and work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events, as required to support departmental operations.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Be enrolled in Criminal Justice, Criminology Program, or related field.
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Must be at least 17 years of age.
- High School Graduate or possess GED.
- Live within a 45-mile radius of the CMPD Central Headquarters Building and throughout employment as a Cadet, continue residing within this 45-mile radius.
- Ability to commit at least twenty (20) work hours per week.
- Must possess a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
- Must be a current College or University Student in good standing, taking a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours, and maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Complete Job-Related Physical Ability Test (JRPAT).
- Has not committed or been convicted of any felony or serious misdemeanors.
- Your qualification process will include an oral interview, background check, and drug test.
ADA and Other Requirements:
Positions in this class typically require: grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Physical Requirements:
- Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting, standing, climbing, or walking for extended periods of time
- Light to moderate lifting and carrying; some crouching, stooping, squatting, crawling, reaching, pushing, and pulling when performing tasks
- Adequate vision, hearing, and speech required.
Sensory Requirements:
- Concentrated and attentive use of one or more senses (visual, audio, and other sensory modalities) for proofreading, data entry, tabulating data.
- Ability to operate in an environment with frequent interruptions from people and or noises, which in return could result in some level of stress, fatigue, or strain.
- Comprehensive written information in work-related documents.
- Ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech.
Working Conditions:
- Work is performed in various indoor and outdoor environments with moderate exposure to atmospheric conditions; moderate exposure to environmental conditions (such as officers, community members, victims, etc.); and frequent exposure to computer screens, phones.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.
The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.
Our culture is to serve the community honorably.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.
You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.
For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.
BENEFITS
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.
Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.