Explorers earn top honors

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Pictured from left are Officer Joshua Cudney, Sgt. Joseph Drelles, Explorer Kiera Lane, Explorer Jeremiah Hanisch, Explorer Ethan Veenstra, Explorer Dirk Rietveld, Sgt. Neil Gomez, Officer Tate Rillema. GRPD courtesy photo.

The Grand Rapids Police Department Explorers team took top honors at the Police Explorer State Championship at Fort Custer in Battle Creek the weekend of May 6 and 7.

The year-round Explorers program is for teens and young adults between 14 – 20 years old who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

The GRPD Explorers meet every other week to take part in an interactive career education program aimed at developing leadership, teamwork, critical thinking skills, physical fitness, mentor relationships and skills related to policing as a profession. They also participate in community service activities.

For the second year in a row, the GRPD Explorers won the Governor’s Cup trophy as the top overall team. The top five Explorer teams in each scenario also received awards. This is the first time our Explorer team placed in every single event. They came in first place in both domestics and accident investigation.

Teams were graded on how they handled several scenarios including domestics, high risk traffic stops, building searches, accident investigation, and marksmanship (handgun). Twenty teams from across the competed  in this annual event.

 

 

 

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