About Us

Exploring can further each member's education, encourage participation in a rewarding and productive service activity, and enhance preparation for future roles as citizens and community members. Several approaches are used to achieve the objectives of Law Enforcement Exploring. One of which is a weekly meeting where representatives of various Law Enforcement agencies (local, county, state, and federal) introduce Explorers to diverse aspects of Law Enforcement. Secondly, Explorers have the opportunity to participate in Law Enforcement efforts in several areas, including, but not limited to:

  • Crime prevention
  • First aid training
  • Radio communication
  • Record keeping
  • Search and rescue procedures

Purpose

The purpose of Law Enforcement Exploring is to provide young adults with an effective program designed to build positive character traits, develop personal and mental fitness as well as promote active citizenship. This kind of program helps us to understand more fully the meaning and benefits of maintaining balance in our lives; showing responsibility towards others and our community; and being mentally, emotionally, and physically stable.

First Goal

The first goal of Exploring is to give youth an opportunity to pursue career interests with adults who can guide them to experiences they might not otherwise get in traditional educational settings, hands on experiences with people who work in a field or have knowledge of it. The first goal recognizes the difference between reading about sailing and going sailing, discussing Law enforcement and participating in Law enforcement.

Second Goal

The second goal of Exploring is to have youth appreciate more fully the meaning of working toward wholeness, seeing the interconnection of all aspects of their world, and understanding how this interconnection affects all of their activities, whether they are of a career or other special interest. That's why an Explorer Post organizes a program or activities around the six experience areas of:

  • Career
  • Fitness
  • Leadership
  • Outdoor
  • Service
  • Social

Supervision

A Sheriff's Office deputy supervises the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Explorer Post 400. All activities are performed under the supervision of department members and demonstrate that Exploring can have more than a superficial role in Law Enforcement. Participants who are fourteen to nineteen years of age are assigned to the Explorer program, whereas the Junior Cadet program is designed for youths ten to thirteen years of age.

Criminal Justice Career

The participants, who have expressed an interest in a criminal justice career, train each week. They study law enforcement-related topics, volunteer their time within the Sheriff's Office, and perform numerous hours of community service at functions in St. Lucie County.

"The Explorers assist us in countless ways," says St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken J. Mascara. "Explorers help at the county fair, at parades, with Crime Stoppers, at the Exchange Club Castle Chili Cook Off, and at neighborhood watch programs and parades. Explorer programs are well supervised activities that bring out the finest in our young people."

Community Service Projects

Community service projects include:

  • Assisting with parking at special events
  • Beach cleanups
  • Fingerprinting children at numerous locations throughout the county

Fundraising

Explorers raise funds to support many of their programs through car washes, cookie and pizza sales, 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.

Additional Information

For more information, the Explorer Advisor Deputy Robert Doty can be contacted at 772-801-9324.