Police Explorers Get Real-World Lessons

Four high school students chase an off-duty police officer through the halls of the Snellville Police Department. Weapons drawn, they go from room to room, clearing each space, trying to decipher where he may be hiding.

This is just a typical Tuesday evening for Police Explorer Post 805.

Each week, Snellville Police Department hosts training exercises for high school students interested in law enforcement.  Through the Boy Scouts of America career exploring program, young men and women ages 14-20 are able to learn the ins and outs of what it is to serve and protect.

“These kids go through the same training as professional law enforcement,” said Officer Damon Harper, head advisor for the Snellville Explorers. “They have the same training material and the same practical exercises.” 

The Snellville post currently trains about 20 registered explorers, generally ages 15 and 16, from local high schools such as Shiloh, Brookwood, South Gwinnett, and Grayson, among others.

On this particular Tuesday evening, those exercises include escaped inmate apprehension, routine traffic stops, and neutralizing domestic disputes. The explorers are placed in realistic situations, briefed by officers in proper protocol, and then given the opportunity to handle the situation as a professional police officer would. (The guns used, of course, are practice weapons only.)

“They give the kids a very realistic look at what the career choice involves if they do become a police officer,” said Karen Caughman, an explorer parent. She added that Harper holds nothing back while training the explorers, giving them a real idea of the potentially fatal dangers of the job.

She believes that her son Zack, a freshman at South Gwinnett High, has even been brought out of his shell by participating.

Helene Perrira, another explorer parent, said the socialization aspect of the program is one of its major benefits.

“The camaraderie aspect of it, the community service projects that they participate in, it all instills a sense of pride in the kids,” she said.

Perrira has had several children participate in the program, and her daughter, Elizabeth is the current captain of the post. She believes in the program so much, that she even gets involved in the training. At this meeting, she and her fiancé Robert Hardin are fighting loudly in one of the police department training rooms as part of a domestic dispute exercise.

“This is something I really want to do with my life, and it’s great that I’m getting training for it,” said Reggie Hensley, a junior at South Gwinnett High. “I’m getting a real education to learn what to do as a police officer.”

Ta’chericia Sardin, a sophomore at South Gwinnett High, said she also got involved because of her professional interests.

“I’ve always been interested in law enforcement, and I want to be a lawyer,” she said.  “I like the learning experience, the people, and the positive outcomes that come from it.”

Harper sees this as a chance for young people to gain career skills and get an inside look at what police officers really do.

“I get to give kids the opportunity to experience law enforcement through our perspective,” he said. “Even if they don’t end up in professional law enforcement, it’s good for them to see.

"I’ve also had several parents tell me that they believe their kids would have turned out a lot differently without the program.”

The police explorers meet each Tuesday evening from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. For additional information, email Officer Damon Harper at dharper@snellville.org or visit the Snellville Police Explorer Facebook page.