Aspiring cops face real-world scenarios in Explorer Competition

Some 350 young aspiring law enforcement officers from across the state faced active shooter, hostage negotiation and other dangerous real-world scenarios in Manteca this weekend.

The fifth annual Central Valley Explorer Competition began Friday and continues through Sunday at East Union High School. The event brings together 32 Police Explorer teams from law enforcement agencies as far away as the top of the state in Siskiyou County to the bottom of the state in San Diego County. Explorer Posts are open to young people from ages 16 to 20 interested in careers in law enforcement.

The competition is run jointly by the Modesto, Manteca, Tracy and Ripon police departments and Stockton California Highway Patrol. The event puts teams through 16 simulations of everyday situations police officers face on the job, from traffic stops and vehicle searches to burglary and domestic disturbance calls. The Explorers also run through less-frequent but high-stress incidents such as officer down, bus assault and hostage rescues.

Modesto police officer and Explorer adviser Chris Adams said the competition has grown significantly from its inception and now has been at capacity for the past couple of years. Members of Explorer posts train for the scenarios throughout the year, as well as volunteer for their respective police departments. Modesto police has about two dozen people in its post and a seven-member team competing at the event.

“They’re learning the job of law enforcement and what it takes,” Adams said. “But they’re also learning leadership skills and other things to help them.”

Modesto resident Jacob Hook, 20, is in his second year in the competition and this year he is acting as a team leader. He has been with Explorers for a year and a half and is a lieutenant in the post.

“It gives you firsthand experience of what police officers have to do on a daily basis,” he said. “It really gets you thinking and you have to be on your toes all the time. And it allows you to experience these scenarios without real-world repercussions, so when you do become a police officer you’ve already learned from your mistakes.”

The Explorers also get a chance to use realistic simulation weapons with soap-bullet rounds in various scenarios. Eighteen-year-old Explorer Walter Moore, from Mount Shasta, said each simulation requires they analyze and adapt on the spot.

“The active shooter was really intense and bullets were flying everywhere,” Moore said. “It really got the adrenaline pumping.”

For the Explorers, the experience is one they hope to carry with them to real jobs as police officers.

“I joined because I was interested in law enforcement and thought this would be a good experience,” said 18-year-old Lauryn Strickland of Yreka. “It’s really gotten me out of my shell.”

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Aspiring cops face real-world scenarios in Explorer Competition."