After two weeks of physical and mental challenges, 24 local men and women, ages 14 to 20, from five different law enforcement agencies graduated from the Central Coast Law Enforcement Explorer Academy.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown and other officials from participating agencies gave the young adults a final inspection before handing over certificates of completion during a June 27 ceremony at the Santa Maria Veterans’ Memorial Community Center.
The exploring program is designed for high school and college age adults interested in a career in law enforcement or a related field in the criminal justice system. Its mission is to offer an awareness of the system through training, practical experiences, competition, and other activities. Explorer Academy Advisor Deputy John Coyle said in a release that the recruits grew tremendously over the two weeks.
“The Explorer Academy really tests their physical endurance and stamina, as well as their critical thinking and problem solving skills. It teaches them the principles of teamwork, dedication, and service to others. The participants in this class have done an outstanding job. We are very proud of the hard work and effort they have put into completing the program,” Coyle said.
The agencies involved included the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria police departments.
This article appears in Jul 2-9, 2015.
