About Us
The Indian River County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Explorer Program, Explorer Post 556, offers young people the opportunity to experience firsthand the challenges and rewards a career in public safety will offer.
Purpose
The purpose of Law Enforcement Exploring is to provide young adults with a program designed to build positive character traits, develop and promote personal and mental fitness. This kind of program helps us to build strong interpersonal skills and confidence; showing responsibility towards others and our community; and being mentally, emotionally, and physically stable.
Supervision
A Sheriff's Office deputy supervises the Indian River County Sheriff's Explorer Post 556. All activities are performed under the supervision of department members. All activities are coordinated with both male and female advisors.
Community Service Projects
Community service projects include: Assisting with parking at special events, Parades, Assisting with other non-profit events
Fundraising
Explorers raise funds to support many of their programs through car washes, community donations, and other events.
Conferences
Participants attend statewide conferences for law enforcement-related Explorer posts, where they compete in law enforcement contests and increase their knowledge of the criminal justice system.
Membership
Requirements
- 2 letters of recommendation (School Resource Deputy, School guidance Counselor, Clergy or Teacher
- Be of good health
- Be of good moral habits with no arrest or conviction
- Have parental approval
- Maintain at least a "C" grade point average
- Submit completed application with $25 non-refundable processing fee
- Young adults between the ages of 14 and 20
Maintaining Membership
- Members must abide by all rules and regulations governing Explorer Post 556
- Members must attend 80% of all Explorer functions
- Members must attend 80% of all Explorer meetings
- Members must maintain at least a ‘C" grade point average
Each applicant must pass a selection process which will include an interview and a background investigation.
Program Objectives
The intent of Law Enforcement Exploring is to educate and involve youth in Law Enforcement operations and to interest them in Law Enforcement functions, whether they enter Law Enforcement career or not. Through involvement, the Law Enforcement Explorer program establishes an awareness of the complexities of law Enforcement service. Post members are given opportunities to see first-hand the efforts of sworn law enforcement personnel.
Later, they share their observations with their peer group and family. Because Explorers are in the impressionable years of young adulthood, it is here that the basic tenets of civic responsibility can best be instilled. Exploring provides the law enforcement community an opportunity to further their investment in its own future through relationships with suitable and talented young adults, they may one day become a sworn member.
Click the links below to learn more
- Accident investigation and forms
- Crime scene investigation and photography
- Criminal investigation
- Custody
- Defensive weapons
- Domestic complaints
- Fingerprinting
- The history of law enforcement
- Introduction to law enforcement
- Note taking skills
- Patrol procedures
- Search and arrest procedures
- Weapons safety
- The criminal justice system
- The history of law enforcement
- Law enforcement community relations
- Participating in mock trials
- Visiting and observing courts, corrections facilities, city prosecutors, judges
- Attend social events
- Beach or park trips
- Dinner for post members and families
- Exchange visits with other posts
- Meet and engage with other sworn agency members
- Crime prevention programs
- Drug prevention programs
- First aid training
- Law Enforcement Week and Law Day participation
- Location of missing persons
- Special Olympics support
- Supporting the Scouting Food Programs
- Traffic control and parking at community events
- BSA high adventure bases
- Crime scene search
- Crowd control
- Lost child rescue operation assistance
- Traffic Control
- Trips
- Improve mental and emotional fitness
- Gain physical fitness and an appreciation of sports
- First aid and CPR
- Job stress and relaxation techniques
- Physical agility course
- Physical fitness - Project COPE
