WIOA 2018 summer cadets introduced at Community Council meeting

August 17, 2018

Aaron J. Tohtsoni

Gila River Indian News

At a Community Council meeting on Aug. 1, the Gila River Police Department Chief Kathleen Elliot introduced their 2018 summer cadets and gave a brief overview of their summer program that was sponsored through WIOA.

Fourteen participated in the cadet program with two returning from previous years. This was the fourth year that the police department had cadets and was the largest group to date. 

The police department also partnered with the EMS and fire department to get the cadets exposure to three different branches of public safety.

The program allowed the cadets to understand and be in a work environment. They learned about the different job responsibilities of each department. They also worked on their leadership skills and worked out every day as part of health and wellness.

They had a chance to experience dispatch, learned CPR while with the EMS crew. They went out to the shooting range and were able to do ride-a-longs.

With school in session, only two new cadets were able to make it to the Community council meeting along with three prior cadets.

After introducing themselves to the Community council, they shared their favorite learning experience and answered questions from council.

The cadets were under the director of Police Sergeant Joaquin Manuel and Officer Rachelle Rodriquez.