The San Benito County Sheriff’s Explorer Program has been
teaching teenagers law enforcement skills with the hope that
someday they will join them.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Explorer Program has been teaching teenagers law enforcement skills with the hope that someday they will join them.
Sheriff’s Det. Bryan Penney and Lt. Roy Iler started the program a year ago at the urging of Sheriff Curtis Hill for boys and girls ages 14 to 20 who are interested in law enforcement. Penney oversees the program with the help of Deputy Jason Lei and Deputy Terri Edwards. Seven explorers meet bi-weekly to learn about law enforcement.
The deputies are grooming the explorers for careers in law enforcement.
“The ultimate goal is to have an employee from ages 15 to 50,” Penney said.
Nick McGill, a 15-year-old sophomore at San Benito High School, participated in the Naval Junior ROTC until it was discontinued in August.
“I used to be in the ROTC program and we got a newsletter online from Deputy Lei,” McGill said. “Something to do with the explorers.”
During a ride along with Lei on Saturday, McGill learned how to book a suspect at the San Benito County Jail. Later, Lei showed McGill how to use the patrol car’s radio depending on its location. Lei said he and Penney teach the explorers about every aspect of law enforcement.
“All the stuff that they won’t get dragged into court for,” Lei said.
McGill’s participation in the explorers has even changed his career path, he said.
“I was actually going more toward the Air Force and Navy at first,” McGill said. “But now I’m going more toward law enforcement. I get experience in everything that law enforcement does.”
The program stresses career development but also gives participants the opportunity to experience something new. The group takes regular field trips to destinations throughout the state, from local public safety facilities to Disneyland.
The explorers work at the San Benito County Fair parking cars to pay for field trips, Penney said.
“A lot of them had never been to Disneyland,” Lei said.
On Dec. 3 the explorers took a field trip to Alcatraz. It was McGill’s first time, he said.
The program also takes monthly mini-field trips to places like the Hollister Fire Department Station No. 2 and the Department of Justice in Watsonville to see different aspects of law enforcement and public service.
Fire Capt. Bob Martin Del Campo Sr. helped coordinate the trip. His son, Bob Martin Del Campo Jr., has been involved with the explorers for a year.
“I decided to do Sheriff’s Office explorers because I wanted something fun to do,” Martin Del Campo said.
Martin Del Campo Jr. takes a pride in his family’s civic service.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll work for the city like my parents,” he said.
Two girls and three boys took the tour of the fire department.
Engineer Daryk Askew showed the explorers the engines at Station No. 2. Askew explained the various hoses on the truck such as the “hotel pack,” used to take water from one pump to two different locations in a building.
Deputies are looking to expand the program, Penney said.
“We are actively recruiting,” Penney said. “We’re looking for kids with an interest in law enforcement.”
Anyone interested in the explorer’s program should call the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office at 831-636-4080 and ask to speak with Det. Bryan Penney or Deputy Jason Lei.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.
