Dear Parents,

On behalf of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, I wish to thank you for inquiring about our youth program. The Senior Cadet program was started in September 1973 and has remained quite active ever since.

The Cadet program gives a teenager the opportunity to explore the career of law enforcement in two directions. The first is as a possible career with our Agency or other law enforcement agencies.  The second direction is to show what the field of law enforcement is about and enjoy fellowship of other youths with the same interests and ideas.

The program consists of meetings held every Monday night from 6:30-9:00 p.m.; during these meetings a speaker comes in and teaches subjects on law enforcement areas. The classes taught are the same or similar to the classes the police officer receives in the police academy.  We call this our cadet academy. This academy lasts from August until May. The meetings are held on the sixth floor of the Criminal Justice Center 2071 Ringling Blvd. (corner of Ringling and East Ave.)

The cadets also assist with community service projects such as traffic control, registering bicycles, parking cars, and many more activities.  Your son or daughter is expected to participate in these work details.

The cadets have their social activities also. They have birthday parties every month, dances, summer time activities, and many more.

                  The Senior Cadets belong to the Florida Sheriff's Explorer Association and travel to State meetings held every three months.  These meetings are voluntary and cadets are not required to participate in them. There is a cost to these meetings.

The cadets receive a uniform that is issued by the Sheriff's Office and remains the property of the Sheriff's Office as well as any other items issued to the cadet.  The only items that you will need to buy will be a black belt, black socks (required for males, optional for females if hose is worn) and black shoes.  The shoes must be of a solid black type either athletic or dress, and not the shiny, military type. I would suggest the athletic type due to our work details.