What Do CCSO Post 29 Sheriff's Explorers Do?

Sheriff's Explorers Post conduct a variety of programs and projects featuring safety, training, and service. Programs are hands-on activities. Explorers have opportunities to learn about the requirements of law enforcement careers and gain firsthand work experiences. They participate in worthwhile, challenging, and exciting projects and programs essential to the learning of law enforcement activities.

An Explorer Post is a co-ed youth group that recruits members, elects officers, and help plan their annual calendar. The adult Advisors provide training, guidance, and supervision for the post's elected officers. Law enforcement Exploring, by its nature, is only an introduction to the police profession.

The local Boy Scout of America council assists sponsoring Law Enforcement Agencies with the following services.

• Youth Protection and leadership training for adult and elected youth officers
• Guidance in organizing a post and maintaining the program
• Methods to recruit new Explorers
• Regular communication with each post to provide program support
• Use of council facilities such as camps and canoes
• Planning of council wide activities that enrich the post's program

Training topics include:

• The history of law enforcement
• Patrol procedures
• Traffic control and accident investigation
• Basic first aid
• Radio procedures
• Crime prevention techniques
• Community and public relations

Program Objectives

The goal of the Explorer's program is to educate and involve the community's youth in police operations, to educate them in law enforcement functions and to interest them in law enforcement careers.

The goals are achieved through several methods. Regular monthly meetings are conducted where representatives of various law enforcement agencies (federal, state, county, and local) meet with the Explorers. The Explorer ride-along program allows members to observe firsthand the field activities of police. Although most law enforcement Exploring activities are educational in nature, social activities are included. By participating in the programs provided, Explorers have the opportunity to broaden their understanding and knowledge of the challenges and job skills that make up their community's police service.

The Explorers program creates a better understanding of America's social, economic, and governmental systems. It instills a sense of pride of our American heritage while preparing a student for leadership roles and societal responsibilities in the community. The Explorers learn to use self-reliance based on courage, self-initiative, and resourcefulness. The program encourages the desire and skill to assist others in need.

Perhaps the most important goal of the Explorers program is to impress on the young people involved the respect for the basic rights of others and reverence for the law.

If you are interested in becoming an Explorer, please meet with your School Resource Officer at your School. Your School Resource Officer will be able to provide you with additional information about the Program. If your School Resource Officer is not available or you don't have one, then you can email SchoolResourceDeputy@ccsofl to receive further information.

Qualifications to become member of Explorer POST No. 29

1. Have never been adjudicated delinquent on a felony charge, if they are a juvenile; or have neither felony convictions, nor ever adjudicated delinquent on a felony charge as a juvenile, if they are 18 or older.
2. Be at least thirteen [13] years of age and not over twenty [20] at the time of becoming a member.
3. Must have a "C" average (report card required), or has a high school diploma or equivalent.
4. Attend three [3] consecutive meetings. Meetings are held every Tuesday night from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.(when school is in session). If a month has a fifth Tuesday, then there will be no meeting on the 5th Tuesday.
5. Complete all applications and paperwork.

Note: Once application have been submitted and all forms are signed the Explorer will be on probationary status for sixty days.

To maintain a membership the Explorer must

1. Maintain a "C" average (report card required) or have a high school diploma or equivalent.
   • Failure to comply will result in Academic Probation until the next grading period.
   • If grades have not improved, disciplinary action will be taken. To include demotion of officers and restricted activities for all Explorers.
2. Abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the POST and the Sheriff's Office.
3. May required 12 hours or more of monthly service, meetings are included.

A membership fee of $45.00 is due at the time of acceptance to the POST. This membership fee is required by the Boy Scouts of America for program, facilities and insurance purposes. This is an annual membership fee is due at enrollment and each January.

Contact Information

Trista Zimmerman
Volunteer Service Coordinator
7474 Utilities Road
Punta Gorda FL 33982
(941) 575-5367
tzimmerman@ccsofl.net