Despite the negative press and public opinions surrounding careers in law enforcement, every year, thousands of young men and women take the plunge and walk those first steps down the path toward a career with a badge every year.
What about those who still make that choice? For many, they feel as if they’re answering a call to protect and serve their fellow citizens.
Young men and women in Belmont and surrounding counties who are considering answering that call can obtain first-hand, and real-world experience in life as a law enforcement officer, thanks to the Law Enforcement Explorer’s Program, put on in partnership with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio River Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
This is the second class to go through the program with the BCSO as Sheriff David Lucas is putting out an additional recruitment call for young men and women ages 14 through 21 and residing in Belmont County.
The first such call went out back in September of 2020.
“We have eight applicants for the inaugural class,” said Sherri VanTassell, the volunteer coordinator with the BCSO. “Six graduated from the program and four remain active.”
VanTassell noted that one additional graduate is still deciding whether to continue, which would bump that total up to five active members. Eight of the original seven applicants were still in high school, with one senior who’d already turned 18. The youngest was 15 and, of the four currently active members, three are females, and one, is a male.
The incoming class currently has five applicants: three males, and two females, ranging in age from 14 to 20.
There’s obviously some interest in the county, but why the Explorer’s program?
“Sheriff Lucas asked me to research the program as a part of his community outreach initiative,” VanTassell said. “He felt it was a great way to grow capacity by getting youth who are interested in law enforcement and criminal justice involvement in the program.
“Then, hopefully, that will lead them to law enforcement as a career. It was also a chance to get youth involved in a program that teaches discipline, respect, civics, community responsibility, and service to others.”
Where to Sign Up and What’s Involved?
The additional open house and recruitment event is set for Wednesday, April 13, from 5-7 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office substation inside the Ohio Valley Mall, across from the hallway leading to the public bathrooms on the south side of the mall. That entrance is to the right of the outdoor entrance to Michael’s.
Interested youth can also go to the sheriff’s office web page here and download, print out, and fill out the application, which must be submitted to the BSCO for review.
Chosen applicants will be interviewed and are eligible only if they meet the following guidelines: Ages 14-21, maintain a “C” average in school or complete at least six college credits per semester and commit to a minimum of eight hours of service to the BCSO per month. Applicants will also undergo a background check.
As described, the program is designed to:
Promote personal growth, character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship, patriotism, and interpersonal communication skills. These attributes are developed through training, practical experiences, mentoring, competition, and other activities.
Approved applicants will meet once a day for four hours for eight weeks. There are also additional monthly meetings.
Information progresses each week, with different topics being covered by the instructors, which includes Sheriff Lucas. Those topics include, but are not limited to: Touring the 911 dispatch center and learning police radios, the phonetic alphabet and codes; a K-9 overview and demonstration, traffic stop scenarios and traffic control; criminal investigation of crimes both against people and property; the Ohio criminal code and court system; firearms training information and demonstration; use of force policy; first aid; marching; and many others.
Future training will include honor guard, CPR/AED and self-care, drug investigations, and crisis intervention.
“We built the curriculum as a miniature of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA),” VanTassell said. “But we also have activities in addition to the curriculum, including opportunities in shared activities with the Wheeling Police Department’s Explorer’s program.
“We are able to offer opportunities for our Explorers to participate in forensic seminars through the Wecht Institute of Law and Science at Duquesne University, we have use of the FOP Lodge No. 6 firing range, and our Explorers can do ‘ride-a-longs’ with the BCSO deputies.”
VanTassell noted the ride-a-longs must have parental permission for any Explorer under the age of 18. She also noted an event in June where Explorers will be provided background information and clues to solve a mock “murder.” VanTassell and the Sheriff will be working with the Explorers during the event.
Post-Graduation
Working with and alongside members of the BCSO doesn’t end upon graduation. Help is always needed, and graduates are afforded numerous opportunities to help out and continue to train and learn.
And according to VanTassell, the four currently with the program never turn down a chance to help out and learn more.
“They have assisted at various events, representing the sheriff’s office,” VanTassell said. “They’ve manned the booths at community fundraisers, talking about the program. They assisted with Shop With a Deputy and Operation Toy Lift. They are currently working to help plan a dog park for Belmont County.
“There has not been a time where the Sheriff nor I have asked them to assist with some event that they are not there, in uniform, representing us well.”
For those looking to enter a career in law enforcement, this time of experience and training is invaluable. It will only help serve the graduates down the road if and when they choose to enter the career of law enforcement.
“The Sheriff also asked me to work with the Boy Scouts organization to identify scholarship opportunities for our Explorers as well as regional and national competitions to help build their college application information and resumes,” VanTassell said. “We will also be awarding achievement ‘bars’ that recognize set numbers of hours in physical fitness, community service, and law enforcement service.”
To show the importance of such programs, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown took the time to join the first Explorers’ class from the BCSO via Zoom for its graduation ceremony. Sheriff Lucas and his staff have embraced the program and taken time to teach in it. Now, they’re waiting for a few good young men, and women, to apply.
