In 2007, Puyallup Police Department Explorers spent more than 7,500 hours working on patrol during community events and just helping out at the station.
That accounts for about the same amount of time as two full-time police officers, said Detective Ken Lewis, an Explorers advisor.
“I think what makes them so valuable is by and large they are very responsible,” he said.
Explorers is a division of scouting — the organization that gets youth active in community service and the outdoor experience through projects, activities and outings. Explorers is open to ages 14-and-a-half to 21. It focuses on a specific vocation or career. There are fire, medical, search and rescue and police explorers.
For the most part they share public service as a focal point.
At the Puyallup Police Department post, there are about 25 to 30 students participating in the post.
“They basically learn almost every facet of law enforcement,” Lewis said.
The students learn everything from how to properly obtain a search warrant to the correct way to direct traffic. For many, getting involved had to do with a desire to have a career in law enforcement.
“We as young teenagers get to experience more than most teenagers do,” said Post Captain C.J. Johnson.
Being part of Explorers is truly life changing, said Post Sgt. Kyle Stone.
It’s improved all aspects of his life. Before Explorers he struggled in school, but now his academics have improved greatly.
“It makes me a better person at home and here,” Johnson said.
The post also becomes a pseudo family for many members, who come from all walks of life with many different backgrounds.
“I think the best part of being in the post is making new friends,” Stone said.
They can trust the students to get stuff done and really can be hands-off for most of the meeting.
“It makes me feel I can be trusted to do something important,” Johnson said.
The trust extends from regular patrol to challenges the post takes part in every year.
The Puyallup Explorer Post has gained a reputation for excellence, Lewis said. What makes the advisors very proud is that they step back during the competitions and watch dedicated training take over for these young people.
The post took part in a tactical competition called the Federal Way Challenge in late February. Several quads in the Puyallup post won their respective competitions, which included a tactical assault on a bus and a raid of a drug house.
“It required a little more training than we usually do,” Lewis said.
Most often the students learn police patrol techniques, but for the competition they spent several weeks training with a SWAT instructor.
“This beats sitting around doing video games any day,” said Post Admin. Lt. Manuel Vandermolen.
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