New Minneapolis police cadets get first look at the job

The first lesson was clear: You are not police officers yet.

"If you see something going on during training, don't jump in, don't try to be a hero. Just call 911," Officer Jeffrey Parker told the roomful of Minneapolis police cadets on their first day of class at the academy. The 27 cadets (26 for the MPD, one for Park Police) would have to earn their badges, he told them.

Lesson two: how to properly fill out paperwork.

"Were you born?" a female instructor barked at one of the rookies, who had forgotten to write his birthday in the appropriate space. In their haste, several others failed to include their middle names.

Such mistakes are inevitable, officials say, particularly during the dizzying first week of training.

When Sgt. Steven Bantle, who runs the academy, first joined the force nearly two decades ago, most of the lessons were delivered in the form of classroom lectures. These days, more and more class time is being devoted to so-called scenario-based training, in which cadets are forced to apply the theories and tactics they learn in class to real-life scenarios.

Several of the new cadets fidgeted nervously in their seats as they awaited further instructions in a classroom lined with posters bearing inspirational quotes by philosophers both known — Abraham Lincoln saying, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power" — and unknown — "The more you sweat here, the less you bleed on the street."

Some of their training will be conducted in a nondescript, fenced-off building in the Webber-Camden neighborhood — which is also home to the department's bomb squad, SWAT team and the Police Activities League — while another portion will be held at Fort Snelling.

Most of the cadets entered the academy with college degrees, but little to no formal law enforcement experience.

Over the next 29 weeks, they will learn the intricacies of the job, from responding to a domestic violence call with an uncooperative victim to active-shooter situations.

The latest academy class will bring the department, which has 826 sworn officers, closer to the 860 officers approved in the city budget.

Last year, city and police leaders pledged to boost the number of officers on the force by nearly 100, after its ranks dipped to its lowest total in nearly 30 years following an unusually large wave of retirements.

For the next 7½ months, the cadets will shadow veteran officers on their patrol beats as part of their training.

Three days a week will be spent in a classroom at Hennepin Technical College, while the other two will be hands-on training at the academy.

"You train so often or so many times, you hope it becomes muscle memory," department spokesman John Elder said.

More women, minorities

Bantle said the cadet class represents the department's renewed push to attract top minority and female candidates. Of the 26 candidates, at least seven are minorities, all male, and eight are women. The department has intensified efforts to have a force that better reflects the community it polices.

About 50 hours will be devoted to firearms training, while another 90 hours of defensive tactics, which includes elements of martial arts disciplines like judo, hapkido and jujitsu.

A week is dedicated to crisis intervention training, to help police encounter suspects with a history of mental illness.

Most of the cadets are from the Upper Midwest, with most coming from Minnesota, but Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa and Illinois are also represented.

"I think the more life experience a cadet has, the more successful they will be," Bantle said. Still, about 20 percent of cadets drop out between the academy and field training.

Libor Jany • 612-673-4064 Twitter:@StribJany