Wheeling PD's Explorer Post Program gives students a taste of law enforcement - WTOV Steubenville

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. — The Wheeling Police Department has a program in which students get a taste of the law enforcement world.

The department’s Explorer Post Program lets students from the ages of 14-21 learn the ropes on how to be a police officer.

“We wanted to be more involved with more young folks to teach them all about police work,” Lt. Josh Sanders said.

It starts out as a 5-week academy that teaches students how to read reports, learn the streets, code books, go on ride alongs, and more.

"Where all students will learn the basics of police work, and we teach them a similar curriculum to what a new officer would learn," Sanders said.

“In this program, we learn how to become law enforcement officer,” Student Abbey Matusik said. “It gets us ready for the career."

The main purposes of the program are to serve as a police recruitment tool and teach explorers life skills in their community.

"Law enforcement explorer posts are one of those things that teach people not only job skills but life skills, work skills, social skills," Sanders said.

The program started in 2019 and has seen dozens of students come through. They are now down to six explorers and are looking to find more coming into the summer.

"These are our future, they start out as explorers but they could take a test and very well become a brand new officer here at the Wheeling Police Department," Sanders said.

"It's very rewarding, and you can see your impact on the community," Matusik said.

You can apply here. or stop into the station.

source: https://wtov9.com/news/local/wheeling-pds-explorer-post-program-gives-students-a-taste-of-law-enforcement

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