Police Explorers

BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW TODAY

     Welcome to the Hopatcong Police Explorer Post 234 webpage. We have 13 Explorers at this time.  It is our mission to help these young adults not only prepare for a career in Law Enforcement, but to help serve the communities they live in at the same time.  The below pictures depict how the Explorers train to become Law Enforcement Officers.  They are now being trained by officers of the Hopatcong Police Department.  Soon others from an array of Law Enforcement career choices will also teach these young adults.  Everything we teach them will be needed in either the police academy or for when they are actually making our communities a safer place as patrolmen and patrolwomen. 

      This post has only been in existance since November of 2005.  Yet already the Explorers have come a long way and I am proud of their dedication.  We have had some that did not make the application process.  We have had some leave when they realized that this was not the career for them.  But that is what this program is all about.  Why have someone go to the military or college, take test after test to get onto a Police Department, finally make it to the Police Acadamy and find out that it isn't for him or her.  Without wasting much time and money this program gives the Explorer the opportunity to learn the field of Law Enforcement;  To decide if that is the path he/she wants to take and at the same time learn. 

Police Explorer Anthony Cirri was promoted to Sergeant at the Hopatcong Council Meeting  on 3/5/08

It was fitting for newly appointed Hopatcong Police Officer James Bianculli to pin the Sergeants badge on Cirri

Patrolman Bianculli had previously rose to the position of Sergeant in the Hopatcong Police Explorers.  As Sergeant

Cirri will be taking a more active administrative role and coordinating the activities of the Explorer Post 

The Explorers at attention at the begining of their meeting.                         Explorers practicing "Dress Right Dress"

Explorers going over the exercises that are the same as in the Morris County Police Academy.  By the time they are ready to go to the academy they will be well prepared for the physical demands and the stress of academy life.

Police officers are taught from the first day of the academy the importance of learning the ten deadly errors.  The first picture is Officer Mancuso going over the ten deadly errors with the Explorers.  The second picture is the Explorers reciting the Ten Deadly Errors which they not only memorized but are able to explain why each error is deadly to an officer.  Once again preparing them not only for the academy but for a career in Law Enforcement.

The Explorers were taught about accident investigations.  In these pictures they were shown an accident and then they completed the accident report on the same forms that are used throughout the State of New Jersey.

As first responders, police officers must know first aid and CPR.  Here Officer Haffner is training the Explorers in First Aid.  After two more meetings and if the Explorers pass a test, they will be certified in first aid and CPR.

The Explorers are taught the military drills that will have to be used in the Police Academy by Police Officer and Marine Jerry Mancuso

Are you interested in Law Enforcement?

Do you want to gain practical experience in being a police officer?

Can you put in 2 hours every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month?

Are you willing to donate time to better your Explorer Post?

Do you have what it takes to learn life skills, citizenship, character education, and leadership experience?

Are you interested in learning the following subjects?:

ACCIDENT SCENE INVESTIGATION

BICYCLE POLICING

BOMB THREAT RESPONSE

BUILDING SEARCH

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

COMMUNITY POLICING

COMPUTER FRAUD

CRIME PREVENTION

CRME SCENE SEARCH

INFORMANTS

CRIMINAL LAW AND COURT PROCEEDURE

CROWD CONTROL

DEFENSIVE TACTICS

DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

DRUG ENFORCEMENT

DRUG PREVENTION

EDUCATION PREPARATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND 911

VEHICLE OPERATIONS

EVIDENCE HANDLING-IDENTIFICATION, COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION

FINGERPRINTING

FIREARMS

FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS

IDENTITY THEFT, FAKE ID’S

INVESTIGATIONS-BASIC TECHNIQUES

INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

LEARNING ABOUT SURROUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

LOST OR MISSING PERSONS

OBSERVATION SKILLS

OFFICER SAFETY

PHYSICAL AGILITY

POLICE WRITTEN EXAM

PRISONER SEARCHES

PATROL PROCEDURES

RADIO PROCEDURES

INTERVIEW/INTERROGATION

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

REPORT WRITING

TERRORISM

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

TRAFFIC CONTROL

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

TRAFFIC STOPS

TRAFFIC STOPS-HIGH RISK

WHITE-COLAR CRIME

YOUTH AND SCHOOL VIOLENCE

     Police Exploring is a career education program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) or 15 to 20 years old.  Color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, economic status, or citizenship is not criteria for participation. Exploring’s purpose is to provide experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities. Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and the organizations in their communities. The Hopatcong Police Department will initiate an Explorer post by matching the officers and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of activities that helps youth pursue their interest in law enforcement, grow, and develop.