A group of residents in the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office
Explorers program recently completed a one-week academy in the San
Diego area that focused on learning law enforcement tactics and
training.
The group of eight in the Explorers program was at the San Diego
Explorers Academy from July 31 to Aug. 7, said Deputy Bryan Penney
with the program. There were more than 200 Explorers overall at the
academy, which concluded with a graduation last weekend.
A group of residents in the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office Explorers program recently completed a one-week academy in the San Diego area that focused on learning law enforcement tactics and training.
The group of eight in the Explorers program was at the San Diego Explorers Academy from July 31 to Aug. 7, said Deputy Bryan Penney with the program. There were more than 200 Explorers overall at the academy, which concluded with a graduation last weekend.
The Explorers, who range in age from 14 to 20, are paired in different groups and have a head instructor as well. Penney compared it to a shortened police academy and boot camp. They learn to march, defense tactics, law enforcement ethics and physical training, he said.
“They’re into it,” said Penney, noting how the goal is to lead them into law enforcement one day, potentially with the local office.
This was the second year San Benito County has taken part. It was $400 per Explorer, while it was funded fully through the program. Penney noted how the participants during the year help at functions such as the county fair and Garlic Festival, and that the program gets paid for the work, which goes toward such trips.
