The Brunswick Police Department’s Cadet Program offers the local youth community a unique opportunity to engage with law enforcement and develop valuable life skills. Originally started about five years ago under the Boy Scouts as the Explorers program, it initially struggled with organization and support.
However, in January 2024, the program was revamped and now operates under the National Public Safety Cadets, a national organization dedicated to youth development in public safety careers.
Senior Patrol Officer Marshall leads the current program with support from the Police Chief and Assistant Chief. Since its reactivation, the program has grown and now holds meetings twice a month, on the first and third Tuesdays. Along with the meetings, the cadets assist the Brunswick Police Department in various city events throughout the year.
The program currently has 11 cadets—7 girls and 4 boys—with previous membership high at 16. Enrollment is open, and the department is preparing to recruit new members early next year, with an open house planned for January 20th for anyone interested. The program welcomes anyone between the ages of 14 and 21, providing a supportive environment for those interested in the law enforcement field or military careers.
The Cadet Program aims not only to introduce participants to police work but also to cultivate essential life skills such as discipline, organization, and leadership. It fosters a sense of cohesion among the cadets, encouraging them to become confident, positive role models within the Brunswick community.
For many cadets, the experience has already made a lasting impact. Emma Palmer, a dedicated member of the program, shared, “It’s a great opportunity to have a feel for law enforcement while also learning great leadership and teamwork abilities that will overall help anyone in any future job opportunities. In the future I am planning on pursuing a job in law enforcement by going to college to study criminology and criminal justice to then go to the academy and hopefully one day make detective.”
Sierra Hester described what she enjoys most about her time in the program: “My favorite part of being at the program is getting to learn so many things that the police officers do but also get to make long-lasting memories with the other cadets.”
Another cadet, Fred Heck, said, “My perspective is that it’s a good way to get to know and see what the cops do in the field. My favorite part of being in the program is that we get to do hands-on scenarios. I might want to go into law enforcement.”
Similarly, cadet Remy Cook reflected on how engaging and practical the program has been: “My perspective of the cadet program is one of engagement.”
Cook continued, “I feel as if the program, with all its meetings and community service events, is a great way to learn about what it is to work in law enforcement. My favorite part about being in the cadet program is when we go through scenarios during the meetings. These scenarios are based off of what we learned from the given topic. An example could be mental health evaluations; we would have to conduct a mental health evaluation within the scenario. I am considering a path in law enforcement in the future.”
Through this program, the Brunswick Police Department demonstrates its commitment to youth engagement and community building—offering young people a chance to learn, grow, and contribute positively to the city they call home.