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Recent academy graduates and members of SPPD Explorer Post #2350 are (from left) Joseph Ramirez, Joana Mencia, Daniela Topete, SPPD Chief Steve McLean, Tommy Lopez and Carina Lemus, who was selected the Explorer Academy’s Best Female Athlete.
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SPPD: Explorer Post has five new
members, more advisors and a goal
August 12, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The Santa Paula Police Explorer Post #2350 is on the move and hopes to keep moving on to the nation’s most prestigious competition for youth working in policing.
The leadership of the post is also expanding with more advisors.
According to Explorer Advisor Sgt. Ken Clark, with the recent graduation of five new Explorers the post now has 25 members, 14 to 18 years old.
“They attend a one-week pre-Explorer academy and then a three-week Explorer academy,” which Clark said “mimics a full time police academy,” for four weeks of training including physical activity such as marching and push-ups as well as other fitness training.
Clark noted the pre-academy has different levels of instructors but the academy has tactical officers working with the youth; the academy is located at Frontier High School in the Camarillo Airport area.
At the academy graduation Santa Paula Explorer Carina Lemus received the Most Athletic Female award.
Clark said the latest graduates have all expressed an interest in pursuing careers in law enforcement not unusual for Explorers.
He noted Explorers “Typically don’t enter the program past 18 but they can serve until they are 20.”
The first Explorer of the Year from the inaugural class—the SPPD formed its first post in 2006—was Daniel Cardoza, now a SPPD Reserve Officer; another former Explorer, Alfred Valencia, is an active member of Citizen Patrol working in parking enforcement.
SPPD Officer Daniel McCarthy is a new advisor to the post and although he was never an Explorer—“I wish I had,” he noted—his 18-year-old son has been a Port Hueneme Police Explorer for four years.
McCarthy volunteered to work with the SPPD Explorers, a program he said he “Never knew about as a kid…I was looking for things for my son to participate in and found it online.”
McCarthy worked at the private sector at the time although his son, “knew I wanted to be in law enforcement and he ended up loving being an Explorer,” a program that McCarthy supported as a volunteer and donating to his son’s post.
Later, “I got picked up here,” and was hired as an officer, “and saw the good it did there and wanted to do something as a kid I never knew about and wish I had…”
With Officer Eric Burnett and Records Supervisor Dianna Miller are also newly on board and along with program veterans Senior Reserve Dave Curran, his wife Melody and Reserve Officer Rosalia Madrigal there will be a major push to recruit new Explorers.
“We’re starting to revamp the recruitment process,” said McCarthy, noting, “Being an Explorer is a good way to get involved in a law enforcement career or just find out if that’s what they’d like to pursue…either way, it’s a great way to get involved in the community.
“It’s hard work but there is a lot of fun stuff,” such as working details at festivals and community events, “and helping officers,” with various needs and tasks.
The major Explorer competition will be held in January in Chandler, AZ.
“Our goal is to actually participate in Chandler,” noted McCarthy.
Clark agreed: “We’re shooting for the Chandler competition in January, that’s the big one. And with new advisors on board we’re looking to have specific recruitment periods and start training for the competitions on a regular basis.”
Donations are also needed for the Explorer program to help defray expenses for uniforms, training and competitions.
For more information on the SPPD Explorer Post call McCarthy or Curran at 805-525-4474.
