Since 1996 the Broome County Sheriff's Office has sponsored a Law Enforcement Explorer Program opened to males and females ages 14-20. Its purpose is to introduce our youth to Law Enforcement careers and to the Criminal Justice System. Additionally, our goal is to promote character development, self-esteem and citizenship training among Broome County's youth.

The Explorers meet once a week for two hours. During this time they receive training and instruction on child fingerprinting, traffic enforcement, crime scene investigation, officer survival, shoot-don't-shoot, the use of force, K-9, criminal procedure law, domestic violence, etc. The program is similar to a basic recruit police academy. The Explorers are issued uniforms that were purchased with funds from grants, fundraising, and donations. This hands-on approach provides valuable experiences that are challenging, thought provoking and essential to the development of young people interested in law enforcement. Explorers learn about career opportunities in Law Enforcement at the local, state, federal, and military levels while analyzing criminal justice education requirements and visiting law enforcement training academies. They have the opportunity to assist Sheriff's Deputies in different training exercises, such as hostage negotiations and certain alcohol and tobacco stings. The Sheriff's detectives partner with Explorers and take them to various businesses and establishments to attempt to purchase cigarettes or alcohol. The purpose is to check these establishments for compliance with Local and State laws and procedures regarding the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to anyone underage. They are under the direct supervision of the detectives to ensure that problems do not occur. In the past year Explorers have also worked with other local police agencies. Endicott Police, Johnson City Police and Vestal Police have used the Sheriff's Explorers to conduct similar type raids in their communities with great results and positive feedback.

2003 was a very busy and productive year for the explorer post. Starting in February the Explorers once again defended their title in the annual "Explorer Post Mall Show" by taking yet another first place honor, making it six consecutive first place honors. The exhibit consisted of child fingerprinting where over 150 children were processed. Demonstrations were done in K-9, defensive tactics and handcuffing procedures. The explorers also ran a ten-minute video that they produced highlighting the different material and topics that are covered in the program. At present the Explorers work between 40-50 events a year including: Speidi Fest/Balloon Rally, Discovery Center "Truck Days", YESCAP "Teammates for Life" Winter Carnival and Summer Events, Lourdes Wellness "Relay for Life", Survival walk at McArthur Park, Boy Scouts "overnighter camping event", Arthritis Foundation Walk/Run, and the annual "Lee Barta" run just to name a few. They also assist with the Sheriff's Summer Camp program. The continued requests for the Explorers are indicative of the success of the program. By working these events each year the Explorer Program has created a cost savings to the community. Money that would have been spent in overtime to have 2 or 3 police officers present at community events is now reduced to paying just one police officer while having 4 or 5 Explorers assigned to assist with that agency. This also helps build a better working relationship and understanding between our youth and law enforcement officers. The Sheriff receives numerous requests each year for the Law Enforcement Explorers to assist in community events. Traffic control, security and child fingerprinting are a large portion of their community service programs.

The Broome County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Explorer Post is one of the most successful exploring posts in the county, possibly the state. Many exploring posts have started using our curriculum and course outlines as a guide. The success rate is a result of exemplary adult leadership and programs that encourage youth development. The increase of responsibility and accountability with the development of positions, such as Sergeant and Lieutenant has helped to secure the popularity and success. The Explorers are presently working on fundraisers and donations so they may compete in many local law enforcement competitions and also to purchase equipment.

At the present time we have 41 students enrolled in the Law Enforcement Explorer Program. We also have students who are acting as instructors, teaching search and rescue procedures to local Boy Scout Troops in the area using course outlines and training they received while in the explorer program. Over the past seven years this program has helped many of Broome County's youth come together to learn about law enforcement and how it affects not only themselves but also their community. The Explorers Program has helped many of its students to know that a career in law 9 enforcement is what they want, whether it be is as Police Officers, Security Guards, Secret Service or FBI Agents. They also know that the Explorer Program has helped them in many ways and has brought them one step closer to their goal.

In February of 2005, the Explorers defended their first place title in the annual “Explorer Post Mall Show”, by taking another first place honor. This makes the seventh consecutive year that this Post has placed first. The Post exhibit consisted of child fingerprinting where over 175 children were processed. Demonstrations were done in K-9 tactics, defensive tactics and handcuffing procedures. The Explorers also ran a ten-minute video that they produced highlighting the different material and topics that are covered in the program. In 2005, the Explorers worked over 65 events including: the Speidi Fest/Balloon Rally, Discovery Center “Truck Days”, YESCAP “Teammates for Life”, Winter Carnival, Lourdes Wellness “Relay for Life”, Survival walk at McArthur Park, Boy Scouts “Overnighter” camping event, Arthritis Foundation Walk/Run, Sheriff’s Summer Camp program and the annual “Lee Barta” run just to name a few. In October of 2005 the explorers were introduced to “Operation Safe Child”. The Explorers assisted Deputies in downloading information into a database and transmitting that information to Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) for the purpose of finding missing or abducted children.

At the present time, we have 33 students enrolled in the Law Enforcement Explorer Program. We also have students who are instructors, teaching search and rescue procedures to local Boy Scout Troops in the area using course outlines and training they received while in the Explorer program. Over the past eight years, this program has helped many of Broome County’s youth come together to learn about law enforcement and how it affects not only themselves but also their community. The program has helped many Explorers to decide whether or not they are interested in a career as a Police Officer, Security Guard, Secret Service or FBI agents. They also know that the Broome County Explorer program has helped them in many ways and has brought them one step closer to their goal. Over the past year, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office has hired a former Explorer to their Corrections Division.