The Arnold Police Department will revive its Police Explorer Program following a 17-year hiatus.
The program, called Explorer Post 9562 of the Boy Scouts of America, is for Jefferson County residents 14 to 20 years old who are interested in learning police work.
“It’s getting harder and harder to find good applicants who want to do this job,” Arnold Police Chief Brian Carroll said. “We wanted to start this program to get young adults an opportunity to see what it takes to be a police officer. We hope our explorers will look up to our officers as role models and give them a better understanding of this profession.
“If they decide that law enforcement is not for them, that’s OK. Hopefully, we can make a difference in their lives and they can take their experience and apply it to their future career aspirations.”
Arnold Police will hold informational meetings about the program from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, April 27; 11 a.m. to noon and 2-3 p.m. Saturday, April 29; and 1-2 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the conference center in the lower level of City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd.
Public Relations Training Officer Josh Lambrich said those interested in joining the program only need to attend one of the meetings.
“During these meetings, we will explain the explorer code of ethics, what the position entails, the benefits of becoming an explorer and the necessary requirements to become an explorer,” Carroll said.
He said the department has not had an explorer program since 2006.
To be eligible, applicants must be either students, high school graduates or possess a GED or its equivalent. Applicants are subject to criminal history background checks and must have no serious arrests or convictions or any violations of the Explorer Code of Ethics.
Those younger than 18 need approval from a parent or guardian to join the program, and those still in school must maintain a “C” grade-point average.
Carroll said participants may take part in the program until they turn 21, when they would become eligible to be police officers.
He said it costs $45 to apply to the program, and the department will cover the cost of uniforms for the explorers.
“This is a minimal expense that I already incorporated in this year’s budget,” he said.
Carroll said Police Officer Kevin Wilson, who also is the school resource officer for the Fox C-6 School District’s Arnold campuses, will work with the program participants, along with Officer Missy Herold and Lt. Jim Sikes.
Carroll said the department hopes to start the program early this summer, with up to 15 members taking part.
He said explorers would meet twice a month at the Police Department, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., and learn the importance of teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and physical fitness.
The explorers also will take part in various community events and learn about building searches, traffic stops, crime scene responses and other police-related calls for service.
Carroll said he hopes the program will produce future Arnold Police officers.
“Recruitment in this profession is at an all-time low,” he said. “We need to change this and look for other opportunities. I hope the explorer program will help us invest in the next generation of police officers. We want our explorers to feel like they have a place in our department and that they are appreciated and valued.
“In a perfect case scenario, our explorers will be vested in our department for several years and then enter a police academy knowing all the particulars of our agency. Upon graduation from the academy, they would become a police officer with our agency.”
For more information, visit the Arnold Police Department’s website at arnoldmo.org/government/police and click on the explorer program link.