Police Explorers Program

Law Enforcement Exploring is the preeminent career orientation and experience program for young people contemplating a career in law enforcement or a related field in the criminal justice system. Its mission is to offer young adults, who are 14 and have completed the eighth grade and not yet 21 years old, a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition, and other activities. Additionally, the program promotes personal growth through character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship and patriotism. Law Enforcement Explorer Posts are sponsored by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the country. For more information, contact Armando Mendoza. You can also view photos of participants in the program.

All Exploring programs are based on career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character education, and leadership experience. Law Enforcement Exploring fulfills all of these areas of emphasis in its mission to offer Explorers interested in a career in law enforcement the opportunity to:

• Gain exposure to various criminal justice careers and to have positive interaction with law enforcement professionals.
• Obtain "hands-on" experience and awareness of the criminal justice system, thereby helping Explorers to make an informed decision on a career in law enforcement or a related field.
• Receive comprehensive career focused training that in many cases qualifies for academic credit (i.e. career education credit).
• Benefit from interpersonal growth through self-discipline, teamwork, challenging experiences, and high standards of performance and personal conduct.
• Enhance character development and improve physical and mental fitness.
• Learn responsibility to self and others through leadership.
• Serve their community by assisting their sponsoring agency in a supplementary law enforcement and liaison capacity.

Careers

The most popular career fields highlighted in Law Enforcement Exploring programs include:

• City, County and State law enforcement officers
• Federal law enforcement officers and Special Agents
• Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts, Forensic Laboratory Specialists and other vital support specialists
• U.S. Military Police officers and Investigators/Special Agents

Through participation in the program Explorers will develop:

• Experience about law enforcement operations through training, practical experience, competitions and other activities
• Knowledge about the mission and purpose of law enforcement
• Teamwork and leadership skills

You will learn:

• Law enforcement procedures and protocols
• The importance of the rule of law in a free and democratic society
• Respect for diversity, human dignity and civil rights in the application of law enforcement operations

Participation

You will have an opportunity to participate in:

• Local, state and regional training programs, conferences and competitive events sponsored by certified Law Enforcement Exploring Associations
• National Law Enforcement Conferences and National Law Enforcement Exploring Leadership Academies
• National Law Enforcement Exploring Pistol Shooting Championship
• Post sponsored basic, advanced and specialized law enforcement training programs
• Post sponsored ride-along programs in patrol cars and other police conveyance operations such as marine patrols and bike policing

Networking

You will have an opportunity to network with:

• Community leaders, representatives from private and public community organizations, and instructors and professors from educational institutions that offer criminal justice and related programs
• Judges, prosecutors and other professionals involved with the criminal justice system
• Law Enforcement Explorers across the country and in some cases with young adults in programs similar to Law Enforcement Exploring sponsored by foreign police agencies
• Law enforcement professionals from local, county, state, federal and military organizations