11/24/2010 Police program allows teens to explore t…

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Police program allows teens to explore their career options
Media Watch
Crime Watch By Laura Peters CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Loose Ends
Opinions Eighteen dedicated teens are jumping ahead of their
Calendar peers and searching out career opportunities with
Sports the Chesterfield Police Department. The Law
Legal Notices Enforcement Explorers program allows teens in
Real Estate Chesterfield to learn hands-on about the criminal Special Sections
Sales
justice field. Young people ages 14-21 can
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Classifieds
participate in this volunteer program, which is part of
Classifieds the co-ed Learning of Life Division of Boy Scouts of
Reader America. The police department established
Resources Explorers Post 609 in 1977.
Officer Justin Aronson (left) shows Thomas
SPECIAL
Totty, a member of the Law Enforcement
Demographics Explorers program, how to use a patrol car’s Officer Justin Aronson, who has been in charge of Holiday Celebrations
2010 SOL laptop system. Post 609 since 2006, says the program focuses a lot
Scores Ash Daniel/Chesterfield Observer on community service.
County Pay
Helpful County
“We believe it is a very successful program for recruiting officers, but we are not upset at all if
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a youth member chooses another career,” Aronson says. “We believe it is important that they
About us make informed choices, and if police work isn’t for them, so be it. Desire to be an officer is
Our Advertisers not a requirement of the program; interest in criminal justice careers is the focus.”
Shopping Fall & Winter 2010-2011
Advertiser Index Aronson says many of the previous Explorers have
Customer gone on to become part of the Chesterfield Police
Service Department team.
Place a
Classified Capt. Kevin Smith joined the Explorers at age 15
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and remained in the program until he was 19, when
Place a
Legal Notice he was hired as a police dispatcher. He soon moved
Pick-up up to an officer and later became the advisor for the Women's Health 2010
Locations Explorers.
Subscribe The Chesterfield County Police Department’s
Contact Us “My experience was typical of a young person with a Law Enforcement Explorer Post 609 placed
Copyright© possible career interest, but knew little about the third in the shoot/don’t shoot competition last
2005-2010 summer at the 2010 National Law
profession,” Smith says. “The officers who ran the Enforcement Explorer conference in Atlanta.
Observer, Inc.
program when I was a teen taught me about the good Those who participated included (front row
All Rights
Reserved and bad of police work, and they were outstanding from left) Ian Anderson and Joshua Dance.
role models who encouraged me to work toward my Back row: Bobby Wellman, MaraLee Transitions for Active Living
Landrum and Thomas Totty.
career goals by continuing my education, getting in Photo courtesy of Chesterfield Police
Newspaper web shape for the academy, maintaining a good Department
site content reputation, choosing friends wisely and keeping a
management
software and good work history, even at a young age.
services
“I learned a lot about police work by riding with officers and networking with people in the
criminal justice system. I also learned about public service through volunteer work,” Smith
says. Business Profiles 2010

Sometimes participants end up finding out police work isn’t for them. Sangeeta Darji,
assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Chesterfield, was part of the Explorers for three years
in high school. She says that although law enforcement wasn’t her best career fit, the
knowledge she gained through the program allowed her to learn more about what she

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11/24/2010 Police program allows teens to explore t…
knowledge she gained through the program allowed her to learn more about what she
wanted for herself.

“I learned working with Chesterfield Police that, while I’m community and civic-minded, being
out and dealing with citizens on a daily basis wasn’t the right fit for me as far as a career,”
says Darji.
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The program can be a reality check for some participants.

“It was particularly enlightening to learn that it’s nothing like it is on TV,” Darji says. “It’s not all
about chasing down drug dealers and crime. It’s much more community service oriented and
much less crime fighting, particularly when it comes to patrol officers.”

Explorers are involved in many different community activities, such as ushering events and
fundraising, and they can ride along with officers. Golf Guide 2010
Members also interact with other Explorer posts in the area, including those in Henrico and
Hanover counties. According to Smith, members attend one competition a year, either the
national one that is every two years or a smaller local one. He says that competition is a very
small part of being an Explorer, but it creates good teamwork skills and motivation to attend
meetings.

“We try to instill values such as integrity first, service before self and excellence in all they do,” Spring-Summer Guide 2010
Aronson says.

The program is partially funded by the police department.

“The Chesterfield County Police Department provides advisors, registration costs and
meeting space, but funds for field or competition trips and other activities have to be raised
by the Explorers,” Aronson says. “Donations can be made to the Chesterfield Police
Foundation with a notation to direct funds to the ‘Explorers.’”

It’s sometimes been difficult to get the word out about the program. Most participants sign up
after they learn about the program from current members or officers. Program leaders ask Summer Camp Guide
school resource officers to refer students who show an interest in law enforcement to the
program.

There are a couple of qualifications for becoming a member of the Explorers. Participants
must be 14 or older, have completed the eighth grade, be a Chesterfield County resident and
show good character, according to Aronson. They must pass a background check and attend
three meetings prior to submitting an application. Older applicants must also have a diploma
Health Matters
or have a 2.0 GPA in high school.

“I think the Explorers join this program for the same reason I did – curiosity. There is no better
way to learn about law enforcement firsthand,” Smith says. “This allows them to fulfill that
curiosity and decide if this is the right path for them, or they just find it to be a positive and fun
outlet and experience during their teen years.”

For more information on the Explorers program, call 706-2966.

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