This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Did you know that area residents ages 14-20 can take a hands-on approach to learn more about law enforcement? The Longmont Police Department offers a program for youth called Police Explorers.
In this program, Explorers "work side-by-side with Longmont police officers to gain practical experience in policing," states a program brochure.
Through the program, participants gain a "sense of community responsibility, improvement of citizenship, student career advancement, leadership, life skills and character development," says Police Explorer Program Coordinator, Melinda Burnett.
One of the most important character development skills that the Explorer program focuses on is compassion. "The Explorer program teaches all aspect of law enforcement and a big part of that is dealing with people when they are in crisis or at a low point in their lives. Modern police work is more than just law enforcement, and a critical piece of dealing with people is empathy and compassion," says Burnett.
The Longmont Police Explorer attendance fluctuates yearly, however, currently, the program has ten active members. Most of those members have attended or are attending a school in the St. Vrain Valley School District as well as some who are home schooled. Many of them go on to exploring careers in law enforcement or the military.
Four members of the Police Explorer program agreed to an interview. They include Haven Cordova, Christian Cronk, Nick Brown and Erin Jensen. These four members also participated in a regional Police Explorers competition called Night Moves on September 22, 2018.
Why did you decide to become a Police Explorer?
Brown- I've always had an interest in law enforcement and my dad is an officer, so when I turned 14, he told me about it [the program]. I looked into it and I thought it would be super fun.
Cronk- I've always been kind of interested in either law enforcement or the military. I wanted to look into more of what the law enforcement does and the training behind it.
Cordova- My brother used to be the leader of the Police Explorers. So I was kinda like, 'Oh, joining that!' So, family tradition.
Jensen- I've wanted to be a police officer since I was about 11. So this was just another branch to kind of get out in the field and see what I really wanted to do.
What do you enjoy about being a Police Explorer?
Brown- I enjoy the community service that we do. I also enjoy the trainings that we get to have on Thursday nights. I also enjoy the people I get to do it with.
Cronk- It's kinda a fun group to just be a part of and to understand how police do their jobs and to get a little bit more information behind what they're doing and kinda the thought process going through their heads especially during controversial events, seeing the reasoning behind it.
Cordova- I enjoy how I get to see both views on different things like how in the media police are viewed as bad but here we get to see why they do the things they do. And the people I meet here are cool. And having the real-life experiences.
Jensen- I really enjoy how close you get to your fellow Explorers. We do a lot of team building which I think brings us close as friends but when we are training it brings us closer and then we can anticipate what the other person is gonna do.
What is the most difficult thing about being a Police Explorer? Did that surprise you?
Brown- I would say that the most difficult thing is to learn and learn quickly and then to be able to compete and apply what we learned. It is also difficult back in our social circles when someone is like "Oh, you're and Explorer?" People expect you to be perfect and expect you to be kind of a model person, so then when you mess up then people judge you a little bit harder than they typically would.
It didn't surprise me as much as it became just kind of annoying more than anything but it's not too bothersome.
Cronk- I wouldn't say there's a most difficult, I'd just say that there's hard tasks to get through. I kinda expected that going in.
Cordova- Trying to prove yourself, because I'm one of the smaller girls in the program and trying to show that even though I am smaller I can do something that the 6-foot man that's on my team can do just as well and just as easily.
It didn't surprise me because I'm usually very confident, so I knew I would do it, it's just proving to other people that I can do it. But it surprised me that that was the most difficult thing because I was expecting targeting training or how to search a building to be the hardest, but no.
Jensen- I haven't really found anything difficult about it. It's been mostly fun. We don't do a lot of hard stuff.
How long have you been in the program?
Brown- I have been in for three years.
Cronk- About a year now.
Cordova- About a year.
Jensen- A little over a year and a half.
What would you tell someone who was considering joining?
Brown- I would say go through applying, go through your oral boards, background checks, and then come be a part of it for the six-month probationary period. If they don't like it then, of course, they don't have to stay. If they are not sure enough that they want to apply first then they can just come sit in on a few meetings, see what we kind of do, meet everybody, and just kinda feel it out and see if they like it.
Cronk- It's fun especially if you wanna get into law enforcement or even anything judicial. It just kinda gives a little bit more information than what high school will provide you with.
Cordova- Come sit in on a meeting because even if you are not sure, just come see what we do, how we do things. Even if you don't want to go into law enforcement it teaches you great other skills like team work and communication.
Jensen- 100% do it! Even if you don't want to be a police officer you are gonna learn something that takes away and you're gonna be able to use in your everyday life. You learn how to talk to people outside of your comfort zone.
What do you plan to do after high school?
Brown- Right now I plan on joining the Army. I plan on going to college first. Right now I am trying to get into West Point, but if I don't do that I might join ROTC and get through college and then do my years in the military. After that, pursue a career in law either as a police officer or a lawyer.
Cronk- It's going to be law enforcement or military.
Cordova- I plan to go to law school and become a criminal defense lawyer.
Jensen- I'm enlisted in the United States military already. So I will serve there for a while and then I'm hoping to be a military police officer.
How do you feel the Police Explorer program prepares you for your post-high school plans?
Brown- I think it's really helped me and prepared me in ways that I couldn't predict. For example, interviewing, we do a lot of talking to people in the scenarios we run through. We do a lot of talking to people, especially people who are in crisis or might become aggressive. So, we get trained on how to pick our words carefully and how to be articulate and stay calm and be professional even under high-stress situations. I also think that the team aspect and the more military side of it will help prepare me for the military.
Cronk- I'd say it has prepared me pretty well especially if I do end up going into law enforcement. I'd say I have a pretty good view on what I'm going into.
Cordova- It has taught me how to react and talk to people and how to get the information I want and not the information I don't need.
Jensen- I've learned so many different tactical things that really apply to both the police force and the military force like dedication, responsibility and respect for others.
From now to the end of October, applications are being accepted for the Police Explorer program. Those interested can contact Officer Melinda Burnett by calling 303-774-4300 Ext 3183 or can find an application here.
