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Ernie Cardoza (right) was honored as the Santa Paula Police Explorer of the Year at a recent ceremony attended by SPPD personnel including Interim Police Chief Ishmael Cordero (left). |
Ernie Cardoza: Big guy with big dreams honored as SPPD Explorer of the Year
July 11, 2012
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Police Department
Santa Paulan Ernie Cardoza is a big guy with big dreams who was recently honored as the Santa Paula Police Department’s Explorer of the Year. Cardoza, a native of Santa Paula, received his award May 18 at Camarillo’s Pleasant Valley Bible Church, just about a month before he graduated from Santa Paula High School where he was involved in the “Link Crew” that greeted and mentored freshman students to help them better adjust to high school.
According to SPPD Interim Chief Ishmael Cordero, Cardoza joined Explorer Post #2350 in 2009 and “has been very active, donating more than 200 hours.” As an Explorer the rangy Cardoza is a familiar - and easy to spot - presence at a variety of community events, from the Citrus Festival and Citrus Classic Balloon Festival to Cruise Nite, Rotary Club Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Festival and the Santa Paula Airport Show.
He is also an on Explorer duty at the numerous parades held in the city. His more serious duties have included assisting SPPD officers with DUI checkpoints, volunteering at the firing range, and even playing the “bad guy” at Special Response Team Trainings.
According to Reserve Sgt. Dave Curran, the SPPD Explorers assistant coordinator, “Ernie’s future goals include going to college and obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, following in the footsteps of his brother, Daniel Cardoza.” Daniel Cardoza was the first Explorer who went on to attend the Reserve Office Academy; then he was hired as a reserve officer with the Santa Paula Police Department.
Ernie Cardoza’s long-term goal is to become a full-time police officer and obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Cardoza received his award from Cordero, Explorers Coordinator SPPD Det. Ken Clark, and Curran.
Cardoza was a committed Explorer even before he joined: “I became interested right around 2009 when Daniel,” the first Cardoza to express an interest in law enforcement, “talked about it a lot.... When I showed up at my first meeting in August I knew it was something I would definitely like and already had a big interest in.”
In fact, Daniel Cardoza was honored as the program’s first Explorer of the Year early in 2008. The SPPD Post was founded in 2006.
What attracted Ernie Cardoza to the program crafted for youth 14 to 20 years old? “Just the fast-paced action of being out there on ride-alongs and the Explorer meetings... you learn so much about the forms, the ticket book, ticket writing,” and more. “They prepare you for everything you’re going to need out on the streets.”
And being an Explorer is also a lot of fun: “I like the events we work, and the hands-on work we do proves to me this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.... You really give back to the community, to the town you’re in.”
Cardoza plans to apply to the SPPD for one of the newly opened Police Cadet positions and attend Ventura College, where he will study Criminal Justice. “Once I graduate I’ll attend the Reserve Officer Academy,” also offered through Ventura College.
Cardoza has not only every intention of becoming a reserve officer, but also eventually to attend the police training academy to become a full-time sworn police officer. And where which police force would he like to join? “Santa Paula,” said Cardoza without a moment’s hesitation.
He’s had his big dream of becoming a police officer for a long time: “I was in love with cops when I was a kid” and, unlike many youngsters who idolize firefighters, “With me it was always cops, cops, cops. The badge, the shiny cars, the red and blue lights going off, serving the community, the professionalism of officers all the time.... When I was a kid I never saw or realized the jokes” and bantering that occurs between the men and women in uniform, but, said Cardoza, “I see that now, that and the seriousness” of those who protect and serve.
A volunteer program designed to assist youth with developing leadership skills, community pride and personal goals, the Explorers program also educates youth about the law enforcement profession. Each Explorer Scout is required to attend a two-week academy where they learn patrol procedures, report writing, proper use of the radio, crowd control and laws of arrest. The academy also instills a sense of individual pride and stresses teamwork.
