Law
Enforcement Exploring or Police Explorers is a volunteer
program designed for young adults interested in
law
enforcement. This
program gives young people, ages 14-21 (may vary), the chance
to explore a career in law enforcement or simply learn more
about the job. Many individuals have used the explorer program
as a stepping stone into professional law enforcement
careers.
While the program has been operational in
the US for over a half century, Exploring is now run as Learning for Life (LFL), a branch of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). They also sponsor
Exploring in other careers, such as law, fire, medicine,
aviation, and science. Police agencies that want to run a
similar program independently generally refer to their
organizations as "Police Cadets".
Each
post is unique and depends on department policy and guidelines
to determine activities and training. Some typical activities
include uniformed patrol ride-alongs to observe officers at
work, classes on law enforcement topics, and interacting with
public during street fairs, parades, or other civic events.
Some posts specialize in or contribute to Explorer Search and Rescue missions.
Every two years, Learning for Life hosts
a national conference for Law Enforcement Explorers. The
conferences include 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.
From Wikipedia, the free
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