Law enforcement Exploring is a worksite based program for young men and women who have completed the 8^th grade and are 14 years of age, or are 15 years of age but have not yet reached their 21^st birthday.  The Explorer Troop is a division of the Scouts of America.  Law enforcement Explorer Posts helps youth to gain insight into a variety of programs that offer hands-on career activities.  For young men and women who are interested in careers in the law enforcement field, Exploring offers experiential learning with lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities that promote the growth and development of adolescent youth.

The Explorers learn the importance of teamwork, developing leadership skills, and ethical methods of problem solving while having fun in a law enforcement environment.  The Explorers attend regular meetings held every other Monday at Police Headquarters.  They are trained in all aspects of law enforcement by experienced officers from the Cape Girardeau Police Department.  This includes how to respond to various calls and how to handle different situations.  Examples of training include, but are not limited to:

           *    Traffic stops                     *    Traffic accident investigations

           *    Burglary in progress        *    White collar crime

           *    Bomb threat response    *    Arrest and search techniques

           *    Shoot/Don’t Shoot           *    Domestic Crisis Intervention

           *    Crime scene search        *    Emergency First Aid

The Explorers are an instrumental component to the Cape Girardeau Police Department and in the community.  The Explorers assist the department in many aspects including, but not limited to directing traffic for special events in the area, dispatching and finding lost children at the Southeast Missouri District Fair and providing additional manpower at the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival.  In October, the Troop goes Trick-or-Treating for can goods. These can goods are then given to the Cape Girardeau Police Officer’s Association for use in Thanksgiving baskets which are provided to local families by the Salvation Army.

In 2000, the Troop adopted a section of Highway 74 between South Kingshighway and I-55.  They can often be seen picking up litter along this stretch of highway throughout the year. 

There are many annual events that the Explorer Troop experience throughout the year.  In January, the Explorers attend a ski night at Hidden Valley Ski Resort in St. Louis, Missouri.  This event includes Explorers adventurers from the entire St. Louis area.  In May, a Boy Scouts night is sponsored at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.  Explorer Troops throughout the State of Missouri are invited to attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball ballgame.  The Explorers truly enjoy these experiences!

The National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference is held every two years.  The conference is usually held in Flagstaff, Arizona or Atlanta, Georgia.  In 2002 and 2006, the Cape Girardeau Police Explorer Post attended the conference in Flagstaff, Arizona.  The Explorers competed in events such as Crime Scene Investigation, White Collar Crime, Bomb Threat, Pistol Competition and Bike Policing.  

The conference provided several seminars in which the Explorers took part in.  These seminars included Psychological Profiling, Gang Recognition, Cyber Crimes, Bomb Scene Investigations and Self-Defense. 

While in that region, the Explorers were able to tour the Grand Canyon, Slide Rock State Park, Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial, ancient Indian Ruins and the Sunset Crater. 

The cost of travel and attendance at the conferences is raised by the Explorers by way of year-long fundraising activities.                      

 

Many former Explorers go on to careers in the law enforcement field.  It is an organization that the City of Cape Girardeau is extremely proud of!  If you are interested in becoming an Explorer, please contact Patrolman Adam Glueck, aglueck@cityofcapegirardeau.org or Danielle Boyd, dboyd@cityofcapegirardeau.org