Black Mountain police enlist the next generation of law enforcement

Cadet Corps offers mentorship and career guidance for Swannanoa Valley youth

Fred McCormick 
The Valley Echo

Lieutenant Joe Kidd, top right, and Sergeant Chris Staton discuss plans for the Black Mountain Police Department Cadet Corps with Lieutenant Rob Austin, bottom left, and Chief Shawn Freeman. The program introduces youth in the Swannanoa Valley to basic law enforcement. The inaugural class will meet in April.

A new program introduced by the Black Mountain Police Department is focusing on the future of law enforcement. 

The department’s Cadet Corps initiative will provide training and mentorship to area students interested in a future in the field. 

The department began accepting applicants, between ages 15-20 (14-year-old high school freshmen will also be considered), for its inaugural class in late February, according to police chief Shawn Freeman. The group will hold its first meeting in April. 

While the program offers cadets an introduction to basic law enforcement, he continued, participants will be required to meet academic requirements to remain eligible. 

“The goal of this program is to help young people be successful,” Freeman said. “We really want to impress upon them the importance of education. We view this as not only an opportunity to teach them about law enforcement, but also help them be a positive presence in the community.”

The idea was proposed by 14-year veteran of the department, Sergeant Chris Staton, who will lead the program with Lieutenant Joe Kidd. 

“On a personal level, I was part of one of these programs in my hometown when I was a teenager, so I got to see the impact of it, firsthand,” Staton said. “So, I have a really good idea of how it’s designed to mentor youth.”

The curriculum and protocol for Cadet Corps have been in development since summer of 2018, according to Freeman, but Staton suggested the department look into creating a Law Enforcement Explorer-esque program several years ago. Members of the department worked together to develop a framework tailored to the needs of the local community.

Applications for the program are available at the Black Mountain Police Department, and eligibility requirements include a minimum 2.5 GPA, an active interest in law enforcement and the ability to pass an interview and background investigation. Candidates with felony convictions do not qualify, according to Freeman.

“We have to make sure that there is nothing on their record that disqualifies them,” he continued. “We want to make sure we’re getting youth in here that we can impact, and our hands are tied when it comes to felony convictions. However, if we have young people who have had issues in school, or in some cases, a misdemeanor crime, they’re not necessarily disqualified.”

In an effort to extend the reach of the program, the department will accept applications from any students in the Swannanoa Valley. Each potential cadet will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, leaving open the possibility of participants from nearby communities.

Participants are required to uphold the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, and will be issued Cadet Corps uniforms. A rank structure will be developed and members will assist Black Mountain police as they work events in the community and participate in ride-alongs with officers. 

“We’re going to let our cadets participate in our town functions, like the Christmas Parade, so they see that we’re out in the community, everyday, to provide all kinds of assistance.” 

Participation in the program will require cadets to regularly attend monthly meetings and volunteer in the community, according to Staton. 

“I still recall things today that I heard 20 years ago when I was participating in a program like this,” Staton said. “My goal is to have that kind of impact on the young people in this program.”

As the department prepares to welcome its inaugural class, Freeman’s vision for Cadet Corps extends well into the future. 

“This program is something that will always evolve, and we will find ways to be even better mentors to the youth,” he said. “I’d say long after we’re all gone, this program will adapt to meet the needs of young people in this community.”