Law Enforcement Exploring
Encyclopedia
Law Enforcement Exploring also known as Police Explorers 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
. Founded on July 12, 1973, 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 qualified young adults who graduated 8th grade and are ages 14 through 21.
Most posts are paramilitary in nature, with a command structure mirroring that of the hosting agency.
After September 11, 2001, some Explorer posts have focused their training on counter-terrorism, border patrol, and active shooter areas, while still teaching the above listed areas.
Some systems may provide different levels of Academy training, such as:
A majority of Explorer Training, including Academies are instructed by post advisers.
at parades, to providing security and uniformed presence at events like fairs and sporting events, and directing traffic during mass traffic floods; such as those following sporting and other civic events.
in Atlanta, Georgia
. The 2012 Conference will be held at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Depending on regional structure, Explorers may compete several times annually. 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 the region, country, and sometimes world.
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
. Founded on July 12, 1973, it is one of the Exploring
Exploring (Learning for Life)
Exploring is a worksite-based program of Learning for Life, a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America, for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years old...
programs from Learning for Life
Learning for Life
Learning for Life is a United States school and work-site based youth program that is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America. It utilizes programs designed for schools and community-based organizations that are designed to prepare youth for the complexities of contemporary society and to...
, a non-Scouting subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. The program is generally available to qualified young adults who graduated 8th grade and are ages 14 through 21.
National
Learning for Life (LFL) coordinates the Law Enforcement Explorer program at the national level. LFL provides resources such as advisor training, sample policies, and insurance. LFL also hosts a biannual conference and competition, the National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference.Local
Local Explorer programs chartered by a local law enforcement agency. At least one officer from that agency serves as the post "Advisor". This advisor is responsible for department-level administration of the program, and ensuring that the program meets the departments objectives.Most posts are paramilitary in nature, with a command structure mirroring that of the hosting agency.
Activities and 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”
- Community Service
- Marijuana Field Raid
- Tubular Assault (neutralizing terrorists in a hijacked bus or airplane)
- Honor guardHonor guardAn honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
s - Search and Rescue (some ESAR posts specialize in this)
- Radio procedure (how to properly use police radios)
- Takedowns and Ground Control (proper use of force)
- Traffic stopTraffic stopA traffic stop, commonly called Being pulled over, is a temporary detention of a driver of a vehicle by police to investigate a possible crime or civil infraction. In constitutional law in the United States, a traffic stop is considered to be a subset of the Terry stop; the standard set by the...
s (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 process evidence such as fingerprints and DNA)
- ArrestArrestAn arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
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 shooterActive shooterAn active shooter is defined as "... an armed person who has used deadly physical force on other persons and continues to do so while having unrestricted access to additional victims."...
(how to engage a gunman in high-risk situations) - Crisis negotiations (taking control of a situation through conversation)
- Report writing (paperwork)
- Domestic disputes (how to handle domestic conflicts)
- Weapon training (Baton, Firearms, Aerosol Control Device (in most cases, Oleoresin Capsicum) , Electronic Control Devices)
After September 11, 2001, some Explorer posts have focused their training on counter-terrorism, border patrol, and active shooter areas, while still teaching the above listed areas.
Academy
In some areas of the country, Explorers may go to an Explorer Academy, usually consecutive weekends or week-long to receive training and discipline, somewhat like a real law enforcement academy. The academy ends with a graduation ceremony where certificates (such as CPR certification) and awards are given.Some systems may provide different levels of Academy training, such as:
- Basic (Complete overview of basic law enforcement)
- Advanced (with rotating topic each academy or simply more in-depth training on various topics)
- Explorer Administrative Assistants ( EAA's assist in the running of academies and assist with training)
- Leadership (Either to prepare for a leadership position within the post or to prepare for the actual hiring process)
- Academy Police Department (Explorers apply, and are selected to join the APD, this course will simulate what it is like to work for a law enforcement agency for a week, using mock scenes to challenge the Explorer)
A majority of Explorer Training, including Academies are instructed by post advisers.
Public events
Public services are a chance for the Explorers to get out in public and interact with the community. Events range from crowd controlCrowd control
Crowd control is the controlling of a crowd, to prevent the outbreak of disorder and prevention of possible riot. Examples are at soccer matches, when a sale of goods has attracted an excess of customers, refugee control, or mass decontamination and mass quarantine situations . It calls for gentler...
at parades, to providing security and uniformed presence at events like fairs and sporting events, and directing traffic during mass traffic floods; such as those following sporting and other civic events.
Color Guard
Many posts have a Color Guard Team. It consists of a four person team, two riflemen, and two flag bearers. The Color Guard Team is often used for graduations, awards ceremonies, large meetings, and occasionally formal events such as a funeral.Conferences and Competition
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. The 2010 Conference was held at the Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The 2012 Conference will be held at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Depending on regional structure, Explorers may compete several times annually. 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 the region, country, and sometimes world.
Forums
There is a forum available where you may interact with other police explorers. This forum consist of up-coming police explorers, present police explorers, and retired police explorers. At this forum you can ask questions about Law Enforcement Exploring in general and get advice from other police explorers. Police Explorer ForumAwards and recognition
Explorers are eligible for awards and scholarships offered through Learning for Life, and through local and regional Explorer organizations.See also
- Fire Service ExploringFire Service ExploringFire Service Exploring is one of the career-oriented programs offered by Learning for Life, a branch of the Boy Scouts of America....
- Explorer Search and RescueExplorer Search and RescueExplorer Search and Rescue are teams of Explorers in the Learning for Life program of the Boy Scouts of America who are trained and deployed for search and rescue missions. Well-developed ESAR programs emerged in the state of Washington in the mid 1950s and were followed by others in California...
- ExploringExploring (Learning for Life)Exploring is a worksite-based program of Learning for Life, a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America, for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years old...
- Learning for LifeLearning for LifeLearning for Life is a United States school and work-site based youth program that is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America. It utilizes programs designed for schools and community-based organizations that are designed to prepare youth for the complexities of contemporary society and to...