Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The Sweet Home Police Department is seeking young people interested in law enforcement careers for its Explorer program.
All three of the teens who completed the program in the past are now working in law enforcement, Police Chief Bob Burford said. Carolyn Dimick is an officer with Sweet Home. Josh Marvin is a Linn County deputy. Rettai Reppy is a dispatcher with Sweet Home.
The department started the program in 2001, Burford said.
“However, the last two years, as a department, we’ve not been able to devote as much attention as we’d like because of call loads and staff shortages. All of the officers believe it’s an extremely good program” that benefits the department and the community, he said.
“It gives the Explorer that really wants to work in law enforcement a tremendous hand up,” Burford said. Several have been in for a short period and dropped out because they moved or lost interest in law enforcement.
The department is looking for a maximum of four youths for the program this year, Explorer adviser John Trahan said. A fifth, Becky Horn, 19, is already in the process.
Explorers in Sweet Home are fortunate because they do more than they would in other departments, Trahan said. In Sweet Home, they are under the authority of the officer, but the officers allow them to get actively involved in calls as they gain more experience.
Explorers must put in a minimum of 10 hours a month riding with an officer, Trahan said. Most do more. They attend monthly meetings and exercises and learn things like defensive tactics. Later, they can be trained in the use of pepper spray.
They will go through high-risk traffic stop training and learn about giving court testimony, Trahan said. They also can learn how to lift latent fingerprints, along with a variety of police skills.
“We have used Explorers in the past to help us when we’ve had a warrant,” Burford said. They helped on the Lester Sales arson and surveillance in different cases.
When a crime scene is cordoned off, Burford said, Explorers might make sure no one enters. They don’t take action, but they have radios and can call officers.
“Even if they decide law enforcement isn’t something they want to do,” the Explorer program is a chance to instill valuable work ethics and skills in youths, Burford said. They learn about honesty, integrity, appropriate dress, punctuality and other traits future employers will want to see.
Part of the officer hiring process has an element where assessors are able to use their “gut instincts” about how a prospective officer will fit into law enforcement in general and the department specifically, Burford said. The Explorer program gives future officers a chance to get to know the assessors and can help influence the process.
“If all these housing and development projects that have been approved come on line, there’s going to be a need to hire officers in the next few years,” Burford said. “The Explorers would be a natural hiring pool for us.”
Applications are due at 5 p.m. on April 28. Application packets are available at Sweet Home High School in the guidance office.
Explorers must be 16 to 20 years old and maintain their grades. A background check is run on applicants. Parental approval is required for Explorers under 18 years old.