Gain valuable career- building skills and experience
As an Explorer, young adults have the opportunity to assist the Orange County Sheriff's Department in community and civic events such as parades, health fairs and charitable events. In addition to gaining a working knowledge of police work, the participants have the opportunity to give of themselves to their community. Although the program is law enforcement oriented, Explorers are volunteers and do not serve as police employees, sworn or civilian.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must:
- Be between ages 14 and 21
- Have and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and be in good standing with school administrators
- Be free of any arrest, criminal convictions and not be on probation
- Be free of any severe mental or physical limitation
History of the Explorer Program
In November of 1959, Orange County Sheriff James A. Musick wanted young people who desired exposure in the field of law enforcement to be afforded the opportunity to do so. Thus, the first Law Enforcement Exploring Post in the nation was established. Explorer Post 449 began with twenty-eight explorers in Santa Ana who had to meet the qualifications of being age 14 to 21,maintain a "B" average in school, have a clean record, be of outstanding citizenship in their community and have a general reputation beyond reproach. In 1973, after fifteen years of only allowing young men in the Exploring program, the Boy Scouts of America allowed young women to explore careers in law enforcement through membership in a Explorer Program. Maintaining the same high standards for qualification and training these young women diversified the Department's Post.
To learn more about the Explorer program, call (714) 566-2711.
