Safe in 60: Law Enforcement Explorer Program
Mar 11, 2019, 7:00 AM | Updated: Mar 12, 2019, 9:46 am
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — If you have a teenager who is interested in law enforcement or just wants to get involved in the community, the Explorer program may be a good fit.
The Law Enforcement Explorer Program is a Boy Scouts of America post sponsored by many police departments across the country. It’s open to young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20.
The Salt Lake City Police Department currently has over 50 members active in the program, a tight-knit group that is truly diverse. Members speaks more than eight languages; over half of the participants are female and over half are minorities.
Members of the Salt Lake City Law Enforcement Explorer Program.
The Explorers train once a week for four hours with officer advisors who teach and mentor them about police procedures, tactics and Utah code. On the night we visited their training, they were learning traffic stop scenarios and firearms safety training.
During their training, Explorers also:
- Participate in ride-alongs with SLCPD officers.
- Help with traffic control during special events.
- Provide honor guard at police and public events.
- Pracitice first aid and CPR.
- Learn crime prevention and community outreach.
- Study the history of law enforcement.
- Learn crime scene and searching techniques.
The Explorer program not only provides the youth participants with leadership experience, it also provides police officers in the department a chance to interact with the youth, who will likely be the future of our police department.
Advisors are responsible for guiding the Explorers’ development in five areas of emphasis: Career Opportunities, Life Skills, Citizenship, Character Education, and Leadership Experience.
Although not all of the teens become police officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department, many of them pursue jobs within the judicial system. They leave the Explorer program with a strong understanding of how to serve their community and be part of a team, which they take with them into adulthood.
If you have a teen who is interested in being a police Explorer, contact your local police department, or check out these links for more information:
http://www.slcpd.com/community-engagement/explorers/
https://www.exploring.org/law-enforcement/
