BPD Seeking Applicants for New Police Explorer Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 12, 2015

For more information, please contact:

Steve Kellams, Lieutenant, Bloomington Police Department, 812.339.4417, kellamss@bloomington.in.gov

Joe Qualters, Captain, Bloomington Police Department, 812.349.3317, qualterj@bloomington.in.gov

BPD Seeking Applicants for New Police Explorer Group

Bloomington, Ind. - The Bloomington Police Department is now accepting applications for a Police Explorer group that is currently being formed by the Department.

An introductory meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. until approximately 8:30 p.m. in the Training Room of the Bloomington Police Department, 220 E. 3rd Street. Applications will be available at the meeting.

The Law Enforcement Explorer Program is affiliated with Learning for Life and is designed for young men and women age 14 - 20 interested in a career in Law Enforcement. The membership requirements are as follows:

• Open to young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20

• Must have completed the eighth grade

• Must have and maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or "C" average

• Must be willing to wear a uniform and maintain an appropriate appearance

• Must be willing to attend regular meetings and actively participate in events

• Must possess good moral character and have no major criminal/arrest record

• Must be community minded and willing to serve as positive representatives of the Bloomington Police Department.

• Attend a minimum of four regular meetings (three of which must be consecutive) as a prospective Explorer and successfully pass an entrance interview to determine your membership as an Explorer.

The Explorer Program is an ongoing program that will provide educational and career-based opportunities for the members. Explorers will learn the following procedures and skills: First Aid, CPR, Firearms Safety, Defensive Tactics, Police Patrol Procedures, Evidence Gathering, Leadership, Community Outreach, Physical Fitness, Search and Rescue, Bike Skills, and more. Explorers will have opportunities to attend and compete in state and national level conferences and participate in ride-a-longs with Bloomington Police Department Officers.

"We had tremendous success with the recent Teen Police Academy. The Explorer program will be a great way to build on that success and continue with BPD's outreach to the youth of our community by exposing them to what a career in law enforcement might look like," said Chief Michael Diekhoff.

Questions about the Explorer program should be directed to Lieutenant Steve Kellams at kellamss@bloomington.in.gov or by calling 812.340-3658.

General information on Learning for Life may be found at http://exploring.learningforlife.org/. For more specific information about the Police Explorer program, click on the "Law Enforcement Exploring" logo under Career Fields on the right side of the page.

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