IMPERIAL – After a hiatus due to previous restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Imperial Police Department’s Explorer Program was resumed approximately six months ago, redesigned and revamped as the Imperial Cadet Program.
Earlier this month, on August 7, the program honored seven cadets – fresh from a week-long academy in San Diego – before the Imperial City Council, where Sergeant Alberto Hernandez, one of the program's eight advisory officers, and his cadets described the grueling experiences they had to endure.
“This year our cadets attended the Explorer Academy. It's called the Explorer Academy, but it's also the Cadet Academy and it's located in San Diego,” said Hernandez. “It's a week-long academy that's a condensed boot camp for youth. It's really intense, and again, the focus is on leadership, teamwork and resilience.”
In addition to core values, cadets also learn rhythm and marching, practice physical skills such as defense tactics, complete classroom work, and complete hands-on training in activities such as traffic control, narcotics detection, and learning signs of gang affiliation.
Sergeant Hernandez went on to talk about the intensity and life lessons that cadets learn by attending the academy. In this military-style structure, drill sergeants are inches from cadets' faces, spitting out orders and trying to sort out the weak from the strong, a feat that is not for the faint of heart.
“I want to stress that the first day at the academy is extremely tough for them,” he said of the youth. “There are about seven instructors, about 210 cadets and about 17 different agencies across the state.”
“These trainers Are “Instructors,” he said matter-of-factly. “They start yelling at you. They try to take you down. And that's one thing, one lesson that they're going to take with them their whole life. No matter how hard people come at them, they can always be successful. And that's part of the training that they get at this academy. And I'm extremely, extremely proud of these kids here for successfully completing that.”
Not only do the cadets endure a harrowing combination of mental and physical torture, but they are also deprived of the simple luxuries they once enjoyed and which may have provided them with comfort.
“The cadets don't have any electronics with them. So that's the first thing they throw out,” Hernandez explained. “They start doing push-ups and sit-ups, they push them so they know they want to be there. And then they do.”
But it is precisely in stressful times that teamwork and camaraderie come to the fore, and the cadets emerge stronger.
“They can do it,” Sergeant Hernandez assured proudly. “They get to the point where they don't know if they want to be there anymore. You take them aside, motivate them, tell them: 'You can do it.'”
Hernandez explained that while other cadets from other agencies did indeed leave the academy before the end of the week, all cadets in the Imperial Police cadet program graduated.
“This year, these cadets successfully completed the academy. And we are very proud of them,” he said.
The academy program was held at the University of California, San Diego from June 28 to July 9. The cadets and advising officers lived on-site in the university's residence halls. In addition, the Imperial Police Cadet Program covered the cost of the participating cadets, which was $595 per cadet. The cadets who graduated were all certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Becoming a cadet and its requirements
The Imperial Police Cadet Program continues to offer its police-like training year-round to individuals aged 14 to 20. Once cadets reach the appropriate age, they can apply to the Police Academy.
However, a career in the police is not the end goal for all cadets. Structure, discipline and life lessons are sometimes simply the goal.
“Many of them don't want to pursue a career in law enforcement. And that's perfectly fine,” explained Sergeant Hernandez. “But we want to teach them these core values, like responsibility, ethics, morals and things like that. And keep them on the right path.”
In some cases, cadets who have reached the maximum age of 20 and are considering a career in the police force are welcome to stay and volunteer to help advise new rotations of young cadets until they reach the age of 21.
This keeps the individual motivated until he or she can attend the police academy.
There are currently eight cadets enrolled in the Imperial Police Cadet Program, with a maximum of 15 participants. Cadets meet once a week on Wednesdays in the police station meeting room, and at other times they meet at the Imperial Valley College training grounds.
“We have a meeting room that we go to. Or whatever we have planned for the day,” Hernandez said. “Sometimes we go to the IVC at the track, sometimes we go to the edge of the parking lot.”
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Hernandez explained the general skills the cadets learn at their weekly meetings.
“We teach responsibility, leadership, things like that. We meet every Wednesday for about two hours. Depending on what class schedule we have, there's more or less class. We teach everything from arrest control to defense tactics, we do physical training, we do traffic stops, how to talk to people. Different criminal laws and traffic regulations. Things like that.”
Enrollment is open year-round and interested clients can apply at the Imperial Police Department front office. The prospective cadet must not have a criminal past. A background check must be conducted and basic information and parental permission for minors are required. After that, an appointment for enrollment will be scheduled.
And the best part: the program is free.
“Under our new administration, every cadet will be sponsored with a uniform. A complete uniform from head to toe,” said Sergeant Hernandez. “They don't have to pay anything out of pocket.”
Another advising officer, Sergeant Erik Corona, shared success stories of previous cadets from the Explorers program. He has seen the program's success rate and the diverse career paths these cadets have chosen, from dispatchers to archivists to officers, deputy sheriffs and correctional officers.
In the five years he previously served as a consultant to what was then known as the Explorers Program, Corona said, “I can personally say that I saw about 20 to 25 of these young adults go into the military or law enforcement.”
“I have seen this program be very successful and I am very proud of that,” he added.
For curious viewers who need a little encouragement, the doors are open to take a look inside without obligation. In fact, it is even encouraged.
“Everyone is welcome,” Hernandez said. “Feel free to try it out. If you want to come in as a visitor, you can come by and see if you like it. We encourage people to come by and check it out.”
