Law Enforcement Exploring

Learning for Life (LFL) coordinates the Law Enforcement Exploring program at the national level. LFL provides resources such as advisor training, sample policies, and insurance. LFL also hosts a biannual conference and competition, the National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference.

Local Explorer programs are chartered by a local law enforcement agency. At least one officer from that agency serves as the post "Advisor". This advisor is responsible for department-level administration of the program, and ensuring that the program meets the departments objectives.

Most posts maintain a command structure mirroring that of the hosting agency.

Graduates of the National Law Enforcement Explorer Academy at Fort Leonard Wood, 2013

In some areas of the country, Explorers may go to an Explorer Academy, usually consecutive weekends or week-long to receive training and discipline, similar in nature to that of a real law enforcement academy. The academy ends with a graduation ceremony where certificates (such as CPR certification) and awards are given.

Some systems may provide different levels of academy training, such as:

• Basic (Complete overview of basic law enforcement)
• Advanced (with rotating topic each academy or simply more in-depth training on various topics)
• Explorer Administrative Assistants ( EAA's assist in the running of academies and assist with training)
• Selection (Either to prepare for a leadership position within the post or to prepare for the actual hiring process)
• Academy Police Department (Explorers apply, and are selected to join the APD, this course will simulate what it is like to work for a law enforcement agency for a week, using mock scenes to challenge the Explorer)
• Ride Along (Explorers learn how to safely ride alongside a police officer serving on his or her patrol shift. They learn where to stand on traffics stops and how to react in high stress situations. They are also taught when and when not to get out of the patrol car depending on the severity of the call.)

A majority of Explorer Training, including Academies are instructed by post advisers.

Public services are a chance for the Explorers to get out in public and interact with the community. Events range from crowd control at parades, to providing security and uniformed presence at events like fairs and sporting events, and directing traffic during mass traffic floods; such as those following sporting and other civic events.

Every other year, Learning for Life hosts a National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference, which includes role-playing scenarios that law enforcement officers regularly encounter, seminars, and networking opportunities.[2]

Depending on the regional structure, explorers may compete several times annually. They perform the skills they have learned (such as traffic stops, building searches, marksmanship, arrests, etc.) usually in the form of scenarios. They are graded by judges against fellow explorers from the region, country, and sometimes world.

Since the mid-1970s, there have been over 100 reported cases of police officers raping Explorers, the vast majority of whom were underage. Such incidents have occurred in at least 66 police departments.[3] Learning for Life has created a set of rules governing the Explorer program, which includes a non-fraternization policy between officers (or "adult leaders") and Explorers.[4] However, it leaves oversight to individual departments.[5] There are no reported cases of Learning for Life revoking a police department's ability to operate an Explorer program over failed oversight leading to one or several incidents of sexual abuse.[5]

In 2000, Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to disband the Los Angeles Police Department's Explorer Program due to the Scouts of America's policies (at the time) prohibiting homosexual, atheist, or agnostic members, which violated city laws preventing associations with businesses that discriminate.[6] The LAPD replaced their program with the Cadet Program in 2007.