Police Explorer Program Planned To Start In January

By Andrew Gorosko

The town police department plans to start a Police Explorer unit intended to provide qualified male and female teenagers with opportunities to explore possible careers in law enforcement through interaction with police officers.

At an October 5 Police Commission session, police Patrol Officer Felicia Figol described her planning for a local Police Explorer post, which is expected to start operation by January.

The national program, which is known as Law Enforcement Exploring, is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America.

According to the mission statement under which such a program would operate, “It is the mission of the Newtown Police Explorer program to enable young men and women to become responsible individuals by teaching [them] positive character traits, career development, leadership, and life skills, so they can make ethical choices and achieve their full potential.”

Officer Figol said the Explorer program would provide great educational opportunities for town youth.

Based on the organizational structure of the Explorer program, the group conducts its own fundraising efforts, she said. Consequently, the town would not incur costs for such a program, she said.

 To participate, members would need to maintain at least a “B” grade average in school, she noted. Also, background checks would be conducted on potential members to learn whether they have criminal histories, she said. Interviews would be conducted before people would be allowed to join. Members would wear uniforms.

“We’re still in the process of getting things going,” the police officer said, explaining that the project is in its organizational stages.

Officer Figol said the program is planned for youths from age 14 through age 18. Members would meet twice per month, she said, adding that there would be a 20-person limit on the unit.

The subject matter of meetings would be similar to the content that is presented at the police department’s Citizen Police Academy and its Student Police Academy.

Those educational programs are intended to provide participants with an overview of local law enforcement in relation to the criminal justice system.

Such courses provide a tour of the police station and the town’s emergency dispatch center. Subject matter typically includes: becoming a police officer, patrol operations, crime prevention, domestic violence, a police dog demonstration, crime scene investigations, fingerprinting, the role of firearms, police weaponry, defensive tactics, criminal law concerning juveniles and the schools, and DUI enforcement. Also, participants are allowed to ride along with police while on patrol, but are not exposed to hazardous situations. 

Officer Figol told the Police Commission that members of the Police Explorer post could aid police in various ways. She added that five people have offered to serve as advisers for the post.

Officer Figol stressed that the Explorer program is “very structured” in its approach to teaching the teenage members.

Similar Explorer posts that are operating in Danbury, Fairfield, and Manchester are doing well, she   said.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe credited Officer Figol with proposing the Explorer program for the town, adding that police will give their full support to the project. Such a program can be very beneficial, he said.

Similarly, Police Commission Chairman Duane Giannini said the commission fully supports Officer Figol’s efforts to organize and run a Police Explorer program.