El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Explorer Post 457 is a law enforcement career exploring program. This program offers career orientation and experience for young adults contemplating a career in the field of criminal justice. Additionally, it provides young adults, ages 14 to 20 years old, a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through disciplined training and expectations, practical experiences, volunteering, community service and other activities.
Law Enforcement Exploring is a highly respected program that has served as a platform from which countless young adults have launched successful careers with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Explorers receive law enforcement training and education while gaining valuable experience in leadership roles. Exploring is a primarily youth led program with sworn officers serving as advisers and facilitators for the program. Post 457 completes at least three hours of classroom and scenario based training each week.
Training topics include basic patrol and radio
procedures, criminal law, crime scene
searches, crime prevention, traffic stops,
human relations and apprehension. In
addition, the Explorers gain hands-on training
by participating in ride alongs with deputies,
receiving firearms training and competing in
regional and national scenario competitions.
This program builds trust and cooperation
between youth and the Sheriff’s Office.
Explorers build confidence and have the
opportunity to challenge themselves in ways
they never thought possible.
New to the post this year is the implementation of the Explorers Search and Rescue Unit. This unit works in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) unit to allow selected Explorers to participate in “real world” SAR missions. Currently, there are ten Explorers who have completed the Search and Rescue Beginners Academy and are now certified Level IV searchers.
The Sheriff’s Office OHV Unit provided
Explorers with classroom and hands on
training in technical off-road driving
maneuvers, in-field emergency vehicle
maintenance, and how to properly tow
vehicles. Explorers participated in the Jeeper’s
Jamboree vendor show and assisted in traffic
control.
Showcasing the Post’s highest level of
discipline and uniform appearance is the Color
Guard. The Color guard took part in many
events in the community to include leading
parades, assisting with opening events and the
posting of colors at funerals.
Over the past few years, the Friends of the NRA
has provided the Post over $30,000 in the
form of grants. From these grants, Explorers
are able to expand the range safety program,
as well as, the firearm program. Training has
been provided about firearm safety, handling
and accuracy, not only to the Explorers, but also
to the ROP law class at Ponderosa High School
and to the interns at the District Attorney’s
Office.
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Special Programs & Services
Explorer Post 457