Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 900 Attends National Conference

Fourteen members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 900 joined more than 3,000 other Explorers, adult leaders, and staff from throughout the nation at the 16th Biennial National Law Enforcement Exploring Conference on July 21- 26 at the Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.  The purpose of the conference was to provide a training experience for Law Enforcement Explorers and to contribute to the development of skills required in the law enforcement profession.

Sponsoring Organizations held a career fair at which law enforcement professionals were available to discuss career goals with individual Explorers.  There also were demonstrations and exhibits, as well as many recreational and entertainment events and a closing rally at which area federal and other law enforcement organizations showed off the latest in law enforcement technology and techniques.

The conference featured competitions sponsored by the nation’s top law enforcement organizations, providing realistic and practical experiences to prepare Explorers for the types of situations they would have to face in law enforcement careers.  Team events  included Arrest and Search; Bomb Threat Response; Crime Prevention; Crime-Scene Search; domestic-Crisis Intervention; Shoot/Don’t Shoot; Hostage Negotiation; Burglary in Progress; Traffic Accident Investigation; Traffic Stop; White-Collar Crime; and Emergency Field First Aid.

Individual competitions included Air-Pistol Competition; Drill Competition; Bike Policing; Emergency Vehicle Operations Course and a Pistol Competition.  Eleven Explorers participated in the pistol competition using 9mm semi-automatic firearms.   Explorer Lieutenant Thomas Garmon received a plaque for ranking  9th of the top 20 marksmen in the nation. Explorer Cody Malander, also in the top 20, received the first place medal for being the best in the slow-fire marksman category.  Explorer Sergeant Joshua Davidson was not only in the group of the top marksmen, but received the 3rd place over-all trophy in the Nation!    

Off campus, the Explorers experienced a hike up to 12,005 ft above sea level in the Rocky Mountain National Park, a snowball fight, a tour of the Phoenix Mine and panning for gold, and ultimately a rafting trip down the Cache de Poudre River.