Law Enforcement 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 qualified young adults who graduated 8th grade and are ages 14 through 21.

Organization

National

Learning for Life (LFL) coordinates the Law Enforcement Exploring 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 Exploring Conference.

Local

Local Explorer programs chartered by a local law enforcement agency. At least one officer from that agency serves as the post's "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
* 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 process 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, Firearms, Aerosol Control Device (in most cases, Oleoresin Capsicum) , Electronic Control Devices)

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 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)
*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 advisors

Activities

Ride-alongs

Ride-alongs are definitively the most exciting and critical part of being an Explorer. Explorers, in some posts, are allowed to exit the car on low-risk calls, and/or at the officer's discretion. Ride-alongs provide a valuable experience to learn procedures and laws, and use previously gained knowledge.

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 is often used for graduations, awards ceremonies, large meetings, and occasionally formal events as funerals.

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. In 2008, the conference will be held at Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, CO, on July 21-28. More information here: [http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring/lawenforcement/] .

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.

Awards and recognition

Explorers are eligible for awards and scholarships offered through Learning for Life, and through local and regional Explorer organizations.

Ranks

Most Explorer posts have a paramilitary structure. Usually, the Command Structure mirrors that of the host agency.

Some examples are: Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Master Sergeant, 1st and 2nd Squad Leaders (Generally Sergeants), and Corporal.

ee also

* Fire Service Exploring
*Explorer Search and Rescue
* Exploring
* Learning for Life

External links

Official

[http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring/lawenforcement/ Law Enforcement Exploring]

Posts

*Open Directory Listing: dmoz|Recreation/Scouting/Organizations/Boy_Scouts_of_America/Explorer_Posts/Police_and_Law_Enforcement |Explorer Posts: Police and Law Enforcement

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