FLORIDA
Teens learn how cops work
In this community service group, teens train like police officers, learning how to respond to police calls, fill out reports, even how to handle a firearm.
The Explorer program, a joint effort by law enforcement and an arm of the Boy Scouts of America, is a coed group of youths ages 14 to 21 who work alongside police officers across the country. The Davie Police Department Explorer post has about 15 core members, said Sgt. Rob Choquette, who is in charge of the group. The Broward Sheriff's Office Cooper City Explorer post has 12 members, Detective Dan Smith said.
While the youth organization is often a feeder program for careers in police work or criminal justice, that's not always the case, Choquette said. ''It's usually the motivation, but it's not a requirement,'' he said. ``It's designed for kids to get involved in the community and learn how police do their jobs.''
Youths must apply to the program, undergo a background check and maintain good grades and a satisfactory disciplinary record to be in the program. There is a rank structure and chain of command, like a mini-police department, Choquette said.
Participants attend weekly meetings and learn about various aspects of police work, including dispatch and the processing of paperwork. They wear uniforms and ride along with service aides, who handle calls such as car accidents or identity-theft complaints. Eventually, the Explorers will be allowed to ride along on calls with a police officer, but the youths will never carry a firearm or weapon, Choquette said. ''We take lots of safety precautions,'' he said. ``We don't take them into situations where they could be hurt.''
The Explorers also perform community service
work, such as crowd control, directing traffic for special events,
supplying fingerprinting kits for kids or working with McGruff the Crime
Dog. ''It enables the younger generation to be more involved in the
community, while representing the police department,'' Choquette said.
Julie Landry Laviolette
5 October 2008
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/cooper-davie-southwest/story/711402.html
