Police Explorers

The Bay City Police Explorer Program is a program for youths between the ages of 14 and 21 looking to explore the law enforcement field as a career opportunity.  It offers the youth a chance to get first hand experience in see what a police officer really does on a day to day basis.  It gives youth an opportunity to create positive relationships with police officers. 

The Bay City Police Explorer program is a branch of the Boy Scouts of America under the “Learning for Life” category.  The program operates completely on money that the members raise themselves at fund raisers.  There are two officers that volunteered to be advisors of the program.  The advisors oversee the program but it is primarily run by its members.

The Explorers receive training in many different aspects of law enforcement such as building searches, traffic stops, traffic accident investigation, domestic violence, crime scene investigations, firearms, and many others.  They receive this training during meetings that are held every 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of every month. The training is provided by certified police officers and many times certified trainers in the respected field.   Explorers have the opportunity to take part in a ride-along program where the explorer will ride along with an officer while on patrol.

The Explorers also get a chance to learn more at a week long Police Explorer academy held during the summer with many of the Explorer posts through out the state of Michigan.  The Academy is called the Michigan Law Enforcement Youth Training Academy put on by a state committee Michigan Law Enforcement Youth Advisory Committee (MLEYAC).  The committee is made up of police officers through the state that volunteer their time to help the youth pursue a career in law enforcement.  The academy is a military style boot camp with extensive training in many aspects of law enforcement.

 The instructors are state certified instructors for their field.

The Bay City Police Explorers get a chance to use what they learned by competing against other Explorer posts in the state at the annual Michigan Law Enforcement Youth State Competition held by the MLEYAC.  The posts compete in five areas of law enforcement for a Governor's Cup, which is awarded to the top post overall.  The Bay City Police Explorers Post was awarded the Governor's Cup in 2001.

The program is offered to any youths with an interest in law enforcement that meet the criteria, which is

• Between the ages 14 to 21

• Have and maintain a 2.0 GPA or “C” average

• Have no negative contacts with the police

• Be willing to commit to the program

• Receive parental approval

• Complete an application

• Pass a background check

• Pass an interview process.

If you are interested in becoming a Bay City Police Explorer contact one of the following advisors at (989) 892-5900:

                                    Officer Richard Newbold
                                    Officer Don Aldrich