Decatur Police Department's Explorer Program Empowers Teens to Learn Law Enforcement Skills

The Decatur Police Department's relaunched Explorer program, aimed at introducing teenagers to various law enforcement skills, has seen eight students from Morgan County participate in the two-week program. Led by Officer John Wellman, the program covered topics such as ballistics theory, patrol traffic operations, and crime scene investigation. The students were also taken through physical training, obstacle courses, and a two-hour class on how to conduct a shooting investigation.

Key Takeaways:

• The Decatur Police Department's Explorer program, relaunched this year, aims to introduce teenagers to various law enforcement skills and build relationships between the youth and the department.
• Eight students from Morgan County participated in the two-week program, led by Officer John Wellman, who emphasized the importance of building relationships and showing students what law enforcement does.
• The program covered topics such as ballistics theory, patrol traffic operations, crime scene investigation, and physical training, including a mile-and-a-half run, pushups, and sit-ups.
• A technician from the Crime Scene Investigation team taught the group about bullet trajectory and fingerprinting, and they observed pepper spray training, including simulating an arrest scenario.
• Three students, Diego Fuentes, Dana Jade Puckett, and Kenadie Livingston, are interested in pursuing law enforcement careers after high school, citing their experiences in the Explorer program as a catalyst for their interest.
• One of the alumni of the program, Officer Grant Jones, participated in the program as a teenager and is now an officer in the Decatur Police Department, praising the program's impact on his career path.

Statistics:

• 8 students from Morgan County participated in the two-week program.
• The program covered 10 topics, including ballistics theory, patrol traffic operations, crime scene investigation, and physical training.
• The students participated in a 1.5-mile run, 22 pushups, and 25 sit-ups, and completed an obstacle course.
• 3 students are interested in pursuing law enforcement careers after high school.

Sources:

• "Police program gives teens a taste of the job." The Decatur Daily, Wes Tomlinson, Jun. 28.