Explorer Program

Cost

Because we are a self-funded volunteer organization, we must charge membership dues to cover the cost of operating the program. It costs $90.00 at the time you join, and then $55.00 every December after that. These membership dues are subject to change, but they have remained steady for several years.

The initial cost helps cover the costs of the Explorer uniform and supplemental medical insurances (Learning for Life and Police Activities League). Please note that Explorers will have to purchase additional items, at a later date, to complete their uniform which may include: duty belt, training rubber gun, holster, flashlight, handcuffs, and carrying cases for these items.

Required items

We provide basic uniforms and training equipment, but we do expect explorers to purchase two items for themselves including a pair of BDU pants, and a pair of duty boots.

• The boots must be all black, have a leather toe that can be shined and have no other colors on them. Boots should be combat boots, jungle boots, SWAT boots, work boots or any similar model will work, but they must meet the requirements above. Because explorers spend a lot of time on their feet training in practical exercises, make sure they are comfortable.
• BDU stands for Battle Dress Uniform also known as TDU (Tactical Dress Uniform). These are military fatigue style pants and must be solid black with no other colors showing. Make sure they do not have metal on the outside (covered zippers are okay; metal hooks are not).
• BDU pants can be purchased at a military surplus store, uniform supply store, police supply store or online emergency service supply agency.
• Cargo pants, paramedic pants or other styles are not permitted.

Identification Required

All applicants are required to present proof of your identification when turning in the application.

A state issued ID card, driver’s licenses, or a government issued passport is the preferred method of proving identity. If one of those documents is not available, please provide the best identification available.

We need to see identification documents that prove the applicants full name, date of birth, and a picture of the applicant. If you cannot provide all three elements on a single form of identification, please bring more than one form which combined provide all three elements (the most common combination is a school ID and a photocopy of the applicant’s birth certificate).

The Recruit Academy is 15 weeks long and will take place during our regularly scheduled Wednesday meetings. To graduate, explorers are expected to attend all 15 sessions consecutively. Meetings are scheduled from 1800 to 2145 hours every Wednesday. 

The Recruit Academy is intended to lay the foundation for our training environment. Explorers will focus on fundamental skills, teamwork, knowledge and attitudes. 

Courses include: 

• Personal Discipline
• Officer Safety
• Basic Handcuffing
• Basic Law

Explorers who are at least 16 years of age and who have successfully completed the Recruit Academy are permitted to go on ride-alongs. On a ride-along, the explorer works a shift with an on-duty police officer.

The explorer will have a chance to observe real life police work as it is occurring. Explorers who have demonstrated their abilities in both training and on prior ride-alongs may be allowed to participate in the low-risk aspects of the officer's duties during the ride-along, such as using the radio and/or assisting with paperwork.

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We are proud to not only be a member of the Law Enforcement Explorer Post Advisors Association of Colorado (LEEPAAC), but to also be one of the agencies who provide the work and resources to operate LEEPAAC.

LEEPAAC arranges and hosts events throughout the year that range from social activities to multi-agency training events.

LEEPAAC hosts a regional conference every summer for explorers. During the conference, explorers live on a college campus for six days. Explorers are placed into a team which competes against other teams in at least five events. The top five teams in each event win a medal or trophy. The conference also presents several seminars intended to provide training in areas that might not be normally available to the explorers.

Every Wednesday night is a training meeting intended to provide Recruit Academy graduates with more advanced and task specific training. Explorers awaiting a Recruit Academy may attend meetings until an Academy becomes available.

The Graduate Training program focuses on specific tasks of a law enforcement officer with a heavy focus on hands-on and practical training. In the graduate program we spend a short time in the classroom discussing the task being taught, and then set up practical exercises to reinforce what was presented in the classroom. Role playing scenarios is our most common practical exercise that is utilized to give Explorers a semi “real-life” training experience.

In a role-playing scenarios, explorers act the part of police officers responding to a simulated call. Instructors act as coaches and judges while other instructors and volunteers act as the victims, witnesses, suspects and bystanders. We make these events as realistic as we can without compromising safety.

Examples of graduate training include:

• Traffic Stops
• Building Searches
• Domestic Violence Disputes
• Criminal Investigation
• Crime Scene Preservation
• CPR and Tourniquet Application Certification
• De-Escalation Techniques
• Self Defense