“These cadets will get a feeling for what it’s like to be a police officer,” Valencia said. “These seven cadets made a commitment to do something over and above what their peers are doing. They will give up two weeks this summer for a grueling academy.”He described the summer academy as physically and mentally challenging, Monday through Friday, eight to five. “I’m certain you will all make it through,” he told the cadets. “I have every confidence you’ll make it.”Tony Valencia left the cadets with this encouragement “…Faith, hope and discipline enable you to see it through to the end.”
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Explorers listen to Tony Valencia, District Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. The Explorer program is a branch of the Boy Scouts of America. The new Explorers will undergo training this summer and receive hands on experience on what it is like to be a Santa Paula Police Officer. The new Explorers received their badges at the pinning ceremony last week. Photo by Don Johnson |
Badge is symbol of commitment to citizens of Santa Paula
May 23, 2007
Santa Paula Police Department
By Susan Branham
Santa Paula Times“My badge is a symbol of my commitment to the citizens of Santa Paula. I will wear it with pride and strive to be a positive role model.” With these words seven cadets made Santa Paula history last week. Family and friends watched proudly at the Santa Paula Police Department Explorer Post’s first badge-pinning ceremony at City Hall.Santa Paula Chief of Police Stephen MacKinnon congratulated the new cadets. “Thank you all for coming to this event,” Chief MacKinnon said. “I was thrilled when the concept of the Explorers was proposed here. Thanks to the officers who volunteered to be mentors.” The cadets will have the mentoring of nine Explorer Advisors from the Santa Paula Police Department. “I’ve seen some chiefs come up from high school age as Explorers,” Chief MacKinnon remarked. Santa Paula’s new cadets are Chris Binsley, Daniel Cardoza, Alexandra M. Godinez, Erica Hernandez, Edward Lopez, Erica Mora and Jose Saucedo.The Explorers are a branch of the Boy Scouts of America, and provide opportunities for young men and women ages 14-20 in a number of fields, law enforcement being one of the many possibilities. Explorers receive hands-on experience.Tony Valencia, a District Executive with the Boy Scouts of America, also congratulated the cadets. “I am more than honored to take the time out of my day to be here,” he said. Valencia works as a liaison with units in the field and the Boy Scouts office in Camarillo. “The Explorer program is a work-site based career-education program,” he explained. “It is an opportunity for young men and women to get a feel for a career. These first seven cadets in the Explorer program in Santa Paula are given an opportunity to see what law enforcement is like. They are given a chance to test-drive a career.
