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WHAT IS EXPLORING? What do Explorers do?
Competition
Community Volunteer Activities
Exploring is a program for young adults who want to learn more about careers by visiting working settings, talking with professionals, and actually trying out certain work activities. The 5 main areas of Exploring are career opportunities, life skills, service learning, character education, and leadership experience. The Exploring Program is affiliated with Learning for Life and each group plans their own activities around the interests of its members. WHAT IS OSHKOSH POLICE EXPLORER POST # 9420? Chief David Erickson and the Oshkosh Police Department actively support the Oshkosh Police Explorers. The Law Enforcement Explorer Program is an important asset for today's youth that allows them to explore the career opportunities offered in the law enforcement profession To our knowledge, we are the only operational post in Winnebago County and Explorer Post # 9420 consists of numerous male and female youths from this area. The Post meets at the Oshkosh Police Department on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th (if applicable) Mondays of every month from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Business matters are discussed and some type of education/training is then conducted for the remainder of the meeting. On other dates throughout the year, Explorers participate in events throughout the community. Currently, we have 22 active members (19 male and 3 female). Ages range from 14 – 20 years old, therefore backgrounds range from freshmen in high school to several years of college. This diversity provides a great learning environment for those just entering the program and also allows the older members to sharpen their skills by teaching the new members. We currently have 2 officer advisors… Officer Matt Harris (# 359) has been with the OPD since May 2003 and currently works 3rd shift. Officer Harris obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from UW-Oshkosh. He can be reached anytime at (920) 236-5700 or by e-mail at mharris@ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Officer Chris Farrell (# 342) has been with the OPD since September 2000 and currently works 3rd shift. Officer Farrell obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from UW-Oshkosh. He also has experience in the Outagamie County Jail and well as 3 years with the Phoenix, AZ PD. Officer Farrell obtained his Master’s Degree from Northern Arizona University and also currently teaches several classes at Fox Valley Technical College – Appleton. He can be reached anytime at (920) 236-5700. Also, Crime Prevention Sergeant Steve Sagmeister oversees the Explorer Program and can be reached anytime at (920) 236-5742. We also currently have 2 citizen advisors… Laura LeRoy and Erin Harris both assist the Post by attending meetings and helping to conduct scenarios and training. Laura and Erin also assist by photographing the Explorers in action so that we can post these pictures on this website. Both also assist in helping in any scheduling and business matters that affect the Post. WHAT DO EXPLORERS DO? Competition Community Volunteer Activities Ride-Alongs Top Training Scenarios/Classroom Education
Many times, these topics are supplemented by actual officers conducting the training and also by guest speakers from different areas of law enforcement. This education and training prepares Explorers for numerous Law Enforcement Competitions that they attend throughout the year at varying locations around the state. Competitions What do Explorers do? Community Volunteer Activities Ride-Alongs Top Competitions are held several times a year and allow the Oshkosh Police Explorers to compete against other Explorers from around the state in preset events. Most of these events have the Explorers working together in 2-person or 4-person teams. Explorers participate in the event and are then critiqued and graded by law enforcement professionals. Explorers with the highest scores then receive awards. In the past year, the Oshkosh Police Explorers have attended 2 competitions: WHAT: 2005
Southeast Wisconsin Law Enforcement Explorer Exposition WHAT: 2006 Learning
For Life Law Enforcement Explorer Competition Community Volunteer Activities What do Explorers do? Competition Ride-Alongs Top Explorers also participate in numerous community events throughout the year. Many of these events are also affiliated with the Oshkosh Police Department. These activities allow Explorers to help out the community and police department and also serve as a means for Explorers to socially interact with members of the community. We are always looking to expand this list and to become more involved in the community, so any ideas are more than welcome. Bike Rodeo Christmas Crusade Crisis Response Team (CRT)
training scenarios Country USA Experimental Aircraft
Association (EAA) Holiday Parades KIDS Expo Polar Plunge Roof Top Challenge Safety City Speed Watch Ride-Alongs What do Explorers do? Competition Community Volunteer Activities Top One of the highlights of the Explorer program is ride-alongs. Explorers are allowed to ride with an Oshkosh Police Officer while on-duty. Ride-alongs may be conducted at any time on any work shift, and are usually four hours long. Ride-alongs provide an opportunity for the community to see firsthand the day-to-day workings of law enforcement officers and the ride-along receives important insight into what it means to be a police officer. Several goals of the ride-along program are:
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to provide an opportunity for Explorers to get to know their police officers Ride-alongs are meant to be a fun and educational experience and every effort is made to keep the Explorer ride-along safe. Police work at times may be very dangerous and officers will use their discretions in choosing which calls an Explorer may accompany them on, and for that reason, department policy permits and Explorer from being involved in any type of dangerous weapon calls or vehicle pursuits. |