Law Enforcement Exploring

Law Enforcement Exploring
File:Exploring- Law Enforcement.png
Owner	Learning for Life
Country	United States of America
Website Exploring

Law Enforcement Exploring is a career oriented program that gives young adults the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement by working with local law enforcement agencies. It is one of the Exploring programs from Learning for Life, a non-Scouting subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America. The program is generally available to all youth ages 14 through 21.

Organization

Each local Explorer group or "post" is overseen by an "explorer advisor", usually a law enforcement officer, who supervises and organizes post events. Many Explorers are subject to oral interviews, background checks, and even drug tests as part of the application process.

Training

Each post is unique and the activities of each depend on their specific department’s policies and guidelines. Typical activities include:

• Weekly or bi-monthly administrative and training
• Patrol “ride-alongs”
• Public services
• Honor guards
• Search and Rescue (some ESAR posts specialize in this)
• Radio procedure (how to properly use police radios)
• Traffic stops (how to perform traffic stops)
• Building/cell searches (how to search structures for people or evidence)
• Crime scene investigations (how to search for, log, and processes evidence such as fingerprints and DNA)
• Arrest control (how to properly defend oneself and arrest a suspect)
• High risk car stops (how to pull over a vehicle deemed wanted for felony or violent crimes)
• Active shooter (how to engage a gunman in high-risk situations)
• Hostage negotiations (taking control of a situation through conversation)
• Report writing (paperwork)
• Domestic disputes (how to handle domestic conflicts)
• Weapon training (Baton, ASP, Firearms, Pepper Spray, Electronic Control Devices)

Academy

Explorers may go to an Explorer Academy, usually consecutive weekends or week-long to receive training and discipline, much like that of a real police academy. The Explorer Academy can be compared to a mini-version of what officers go through. The academy ends with a graduation ceremony where certificates and awards are given.

Some systems may provide different levels of Academy training, such as:

• Basic
• Advanced (with rotating topic each academy or simply more in-depth training on various topics)
• Leadership (Either to prepare for a leadership position within the post or to prepare for the actual hiring process)

Activities

Ride-alongs

Ride-alongs are arguably the most anticipated part of being an Explorer. By request Explorers may ask officers or deputies if they can spend the shift with them. Here the explorers sit alongside the officers during their patrol shift. They get to see firsthand the real work of officers. Sometimes Explorers may get to put their training to use; many officers recognize the Explorer's desire to learn and often let them perform small tasks such as calling out a traffic stop to dispatch on the radio or filling out paper work. The ride-along represents what is commonly held to be an invaluable learning experience for those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Public events

Public services are a chance for the Explorers to get out in public and interact with the community. Events range from crowd control at parades, to providing security and police presence at events like fairs and sporting events, and directing traffic during mass traffic floods; such as those following sporting and other civic events.

Honor guards

Many posts have an honor guard. An honor guards is similar to a color guard. It consists of a four person team, two riflemen, or guardsmen and two flag bearers. The honor guard presents the colors when asked, usually for graduations, awards ceremonies, large meetings, and even such formal events as funerals.

Conferences

Several times a year there are opportunities for Explorers to compete. They perform the skills they have learned (such as traffic stops, building searches, marksmanship, arrests, etc) usually in the form of scenarios. They are graded by judges against fellow explorers from around the country and sometimes globe. Listed below are descriptions of a few of many such conferences.

Every two years, Learning for Life hosts a National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference, which includes role-playing scenarios that law enforcement officers regularly encounter, seminars, and networking opportunities. In 2006, the conference was held in Flagstaff, AZ at the Northern Arizona University Campus. More information here: [1].

Every year, there are local and regional conferences, such as the annual LEEPAC conference, which moves around Colorodo. Another conference in Chandler, Arizona is open to Explorers nationwide, and is known as a tactical conference, affectionately referred to as “Chandler”. Northern California hosts its "Challenge" event at rotating locations. San Diego hosts a large and successful Law Enforcement Explorer Academy which attracts Explorer posts throughout the country. "Western Regionals", another large conference, has taken place in California, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Awards and recognition

Explorers are eligible for awards and scholarships offered through the Learning for Life Division of the BSA. Many individual posts and regional explorer associations hold their own annual award ceremonies honoring explorers, advisors, and entire explorer posts.

Ranks

Some law enforcement units may use a rank system within the Explorer post, such as recruit, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant or captain. Explorers who have obtained higher rank (either through appointment by advisors or election by peers) usually assist the post advisors in organizing events and overseeing post members.

Uniforms and equipment

Uniforms and equipment are determined by the post and the associated police department, thus they are different for each post. Explorers may be required to purchase uniforms or the sponsoring law enforcement agency may provide them. Explorers do not carry firearms and generally do not carry other weapons, except in training, though exceptions exist. During events and ride-along, explorers often carry portable radios to keep in communication with each other, their officers, and dispatchers.

External links

• Explorer Posts: Police and Law Enforcement at Curlie