Program Guides Youth to Law-Related Careers

It may be news to some readers that a call to Boy Scout headquarters can be a youngster’s first step toward finding out if he or she has the right stuff for a career in law enforcement.

But any boy--or girl--age 14 or older who dials up the Camarillo office of the Boy Scouts of America Ventura County Council will learn that enrolling in the Exploring Division of the Scouts can provide hands-on experience leading to a career as a police officer, sheriff’s deputy, probation officer, crime-lab technician or related profession. Enrollment does not require past or present affiliation with the Boy Scouts.

Recent statistics compiled by the Scouts indicate that nationally, almost one-third of those in law enforcement and ancillary professions have been involved in a Law Enforcement Explorer Scouts program.

Also, teenagers considering careers in law have joined the program. (This branch of Scouting also offers programs leading to medical and health careers, firefighting and aviation.)

There are Law Enforcement Explorer posts connected to police and sheriff’s departments at the County Government Center in Ventura and in Simi Valley, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Oxnard, said James Peterson, Explorer program executive for the Boy Scouts’ Ventura County Council. He and his staff can refer youths to the program nearest to home.

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In addition to regular twice-monthly meetings at these sites, “explorers have volunteer opportunities to broaden their first-hand knowledge of the challenges and job skills that make up the police service,” Peterson explained.

Many departments use the help of Explorers in such areas as crime prevention, record keeping, radio communications, all under the supervision of department members. And this can lead to attendance at an intensive three-week summer training camp conducted at the Ventura County Police and Sheriff’s Reserve Academy at Camarillo Airport.

The process of becoming a full-fledged Law Enforcement Explorer is not a piece of cake.

An application must be picked up in person at one of the law enforcement agencies mentioned above, said Det. Steven Vendt, Explorer advisor at the Oxnard Police Department.

Applicants may be asked to undergo a series of interviews--but only after passing a detailed background check. “If you have no serious criminal history, a good driving record and 2.0 GPA in school, we will contact you,” said Vendt.

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And the high-adventure part of being an Explorer, namely riding along on actual police patrols, is something that’s allowed only after students participate in a program of work details at the post and successfully complete the summer camp program.

But, Vendt, said, “You should join Explorers now so you can talk to the other kids and find out about the whole program.” The average age of those in the program is 16.

Camp, said Vendt, “is a somewhat stressful environment. We yell at [the recruits] and make them do push-ups.” Other elements of the program--actually a mini police academy--include the history of law enforcement, radio operations, traffic control and investigative procedures, he said.

In spite of the hardships, enrollment in the camp has risen steadily during its 10-year history to about 30 or 40 applicants each summer. The drop-out rate has varied from 10% to 50%.

But those who have the right stuff and manage to stick with the Explorer program during the summer camp and through several years of volunteer work will reap real rewards, said Vendt.

“I could tell you a lot of glory stories about kids who became captains of their Explorer post and are now deputy sheriffs,” he said. “Lots of sheriff’s deputies were Explorers.”

DETAILS

* FYI: For information about the Law Enforcement Exploring Program of the Boy Scouts of America Ventura County Council--open to boys and girls 14 and older--call James Peterson at (805) 482-8938.