Full Notification

(Bloomington, Ind.) – More than 2,000 young men and women from around the country will take part in the bi-annual National Law Enforcement Exploring Conference on the campus of Indiana University today through July 19th. While there they will compete with other teams and acquire important skills and techniques from some of the highest-ranking law enforcement professionals in the nation.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Law Enforcement Exploring movement which began in Orange County, California in 1959. Since then, hundreds of thousands of young American men and women aged 14-20 interested in the field of law enforcement have participated in Law Enforcement Exploring. This includes former Explorer and current National Law Enforcement Exploring Committee Chair, United States Secret Service Director Julia Pierson.

The week-long conference, which is held every other year (and was last held at Indiana University in 1994), provides Explorers with competition-based learning combined with lots of fun, educational, hands-on activities that promote personal growth, teamwork, and career development.

During the conference thousands of current Law Enforcement Explorers will participate in team competitions including: arrest and search, crime scene investigation, bomb threat response, judgment pistol shooting, and crisis negotiation. Seminars on bomb investigations, combating terrorism, executive protection, narcotic trafficking, gang recognition, hate crimes, surveillance methods and technology, and other topics will be offered by professional law enforcement specialists.

Director Pierson will speak and Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann will deliver the keynote address during opening ceremonies which will be held today at 7:30 p.m in the Indiana University Auditorium.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the next generation of American law enforcement to learn the skills and techniques they will need from this generation’s law enforcement officers and leaders who care deeply about our profession— and our nation’s— future,”

“It is an honor to help ensure our nation’s security and to share the energy and enthusiasm of the Explorers for our incredibly important profession” said Director Pierson.

In addition to the competitions, awards will be given out to Explorers, advisors, and supporters of Law Enforcement Exploring past and present; new national youth representatives will be elected; law enforcement agencies and others will participate in Career Fair/Exploring USA booths; and conference participants will be able to purchase Exploring gear at the National Law Enforcement Exploring “Cop Shop.”

High-ranking officials from the U.S. Secret Service, Indiana State Police, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Park Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other government law enforcement organizations will take part in the conference.

To read more about the conference please visit: http://exploring.learningforlife.org/services/career-exploring/law-enforcement/2014-conference/

For access to the competitions and lectures occurring throughout the week, covering the conference, or interviewing Explorers, advisors, or leaders, please contact the National Law Enforcement Exploring Conference (NLEEC) Public Affairs office at 202-497-8308.

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DURNIL/NLEEC