Full Notification

The San Leandro Police Department is proud to announce that 4 of its Police Explorers successfully graduated from the San Diego Law Enforcement Explorer Leadership Academy today. 

More than 240 law enforcement explorers from various agencies throughout California attended the academy this past week. The 7-day, live-in academy, is held on the University of California San Diego campus, and offers a variety of training for explorers with various levels of experience during the 3-phase program. Each phase is one week long and all explorers are required to complete the first phase, before moving onto the leadership and advanced phases. 

SLPD Explorers have been attending this academy since 2005. This year, under the leadership of their advisors, Sergeant Steve Cesaretti, Detective Deborah Trujillo, Officers Iain Fry, Justin Blankinship, Maria Cortez and Public Safety Dispatcher Ashlee D’Apice, San Leandro's Explorers were well-prepared for this academy class.  Tuition for the academy and related expenses are paid for through asset forfeiture funds, seized from suspects arrested and convicted of drug-related crimes. 

Chief Jeff Tudor knows the value of investing in our youth and preparing them for careers in law enforcement, stating "These young adults are our future generation of law enforcement officers. I am very proud of their accomplishments.”

The leadership academy is described as a cross between a military boot camp and a police academy, which is highly regimented and challenging for all.  Many of the scenario-based training exercises taught to explorers attending their second and third phases of the academy mirrors training received by sworn police officers. 

Each day, the explorers get up at 5:30am and spend their day doing physical fitness and attending specialized courses, preparing them for careers in the law enforcement profession. Classes include criminal law, report writing, investigations, traffic control, riot control, defensive tactics, and effective communication skills. Explorers in the second phase of the academy attend classes focusing on leadership development, while those in the third phase receive advanced training, learning even more about successful management of their Explorer Units. Like police officers, they are held to high standards teamwork, integrity, and professionalism. Explorers learn skills at every level that may be used throughout their lives, regardless if they enter the law enforcement profession or not. 

The San Leandro Police Explorer Post is a division of the Boy Scouts of America, and is open to young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. It is a volunteer position in which Explorers gain valuable training and life experience, preparing them for careers in law enforcement and other disciplines. If you are interested in becoming a police explorer or learning more about the program, please visit the SLPD website for more information or email the program advisors at [email protected].
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PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION:

DATE / TIME OF RELEASE:  08/11/18 – 6:00pm

INCIDENTS:  SLPD Explorers Graduate from Academy
 
PRESS RELEASE OFFICER:  Lt. Robert McManus

TELEPHONE: (510) 577-3232

EMAIL: [email protected]

DATE / TIME OF INCIDENT: 08/12/18 – 11:00am

ACADEMY LOCATION:  UC San Diego