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MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE |
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General Order |
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CHAPTER: |
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TITLE: |
071 |
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Explorer Post |
EFFECTIVE DATE: |
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NO. PAGES: |
REVIEWED/REVISED: |
November 8, 2004 |
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4 |
May 21, 2019 |
REFERENCE: |
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RESCINDS: |
CALEA 44.2.5 |
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Sheriff of Monroe County |
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I.POLICY: The Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to providing a learning program for students interested in a law enforcement career through an Explorer Post. This program is designed to develop self-esteem, discipline, good citizenship, and leadership. Explorer Post members are not to be assigned duties requiring sworn deputy status.
II.PROCEDURES
A.Explorer Program Manual:
1.Each Explorer Post will operate in accordance with the Explorer Program Manual and all the requirements of the Boy Scouts of America Law Enforcement Explorer Program.
2.The Explorer Program Manual is to be consistent with the Sheriff’s Office Operations Manual and is to be used for the day-to-day operation of the individual Explorer Post.
B.Advisors
1.The School Resource Officer in the Post Sector will be assigned as the Post Senior Advisor.
2.The Post Senior Advisor has the authority to veto, without exception, any plan, function, act or any other matter that arises which may conflict with Office policy.
3.Sheriff’s Office members or other local law enforcement agency personnel may be appointed as Assistant Advisors to the Explorer Post as necessary.
4.All Advisors will follow their regular Chain-of-Command when dealing with Explorer business.
C.Membership: Membership will be composed of three (3) units:
1.Cadet Explorer – ages 10 – 11
2.Junior Explorer – ages 12 – 13
3.Senior Explorer – ages 14 - 21
D.General Program Conditions:
1.Chartered through the Boy Scouts of America
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2.Member of the Florida Sheriff’s Explorer Association
3.Members may participate in Explorer functions as determined by the Post Senior Advisor
4.Are considered members of the Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program
5.A ranking Senior Explorer member will supervise Junior Explorers and Cadet Explorers.
6.The supervising Senior Explorer will be supervised by the Post Senior Advisor who has final decision authority over all Post business and members.
E.Ride Along Program:
1.Senior Explorers may ride as an observer with a Patrol Deputy only after completing the following:
a.Reached the age of sixteen (16)
b.Eight (8) hours of communications training
c.Forty (40) hour Explorer Academy or equivalent training
d.Six (6) months in good standing with their respective Explorer Post
e.Ride along waiver
f.All other criteria, rules or procedures as outlined in the Explorer Program Manual or those deemed necessary by the Post Senior Advisor
g.Number of hours of patrol time is regulated as noted below
2.Senior Explorers may exit the patrol unit only to the extent of standing in the “Y” of the door or unless otherwise directed by the accompanying deputy.
3.Senior Explorers will not ride more hours than a regular Deputy’s workweek within one-week time
4.At the discretion of the Post Senior Advisor, a Senior Explorer shall not ride with the same Deputy twice within one workweek.
5.During regular school session a Senior Explorer shall be limited to the number of hours he may ride in one week based on their current GPA as follows:
a. |
1.9 |
– Below |
Ineligible |
b. |
2.0 |
– 2.9 |
once a week |
c. |
3.0 |
– 3.4 |
twice a week |
d. |
3.5 |
– Higher |
unlimited |
6.After completing one year in good standing with the Explorer Program, he or she may apply for and receive sponsorship to an Auxiliary, Reserve, Basic Law Enforcement or Basic Corrections Academy based on the endorsement of the Post Senior Advisor and at the Sheriff’s discretion.
F.Explorer Pistol Team
1.The MCSO Explorer Pistol Team will consist of Senior Explorers aged 14-21 from all three posts for the sole purpose of competing in quarterly statewide FSEA Explorer pistol competitions.
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2.All Explorer Firearms Instructors shall be FDLE CJST Certified or NRA certified Firearms Instructors.
3.Firearms shall be controlled, maintained and issued to the Explorer Firearms Instructor. Explorers shall only be in possession of firearms during training sessions or competitions and under strict supervision of the Explorer Firearms Instructor or other approved certified firearms instructors at all times. Explorers shall never under any circumstances take a firearm home or any place outside the direct supervision of the Explorer Firearms Instructor or approved certified firearms instructor.
4.Each Pistol Team member shall complete permission and waiver forms.
5.Each Explorer shall complete a 40-hour initial firearms training course followed by bi-monthly training.
6.Membership on the team shall be considered a privilege. The Explorer Firearms Instructor shall have sole discretion in dismissal and appointment decisions regarding individual explorer’s participation on the team.
7.Training shall be conducted primarily at NAS Boca Chica Range in Key West, the Range in Key Largo, the Sheriff’s Office mobile range or any commercially operated and licensed range in Monroe County.
8.All MCSO Explorer Pistol Team members and instructors shall comply with all policies regarding the Explorer Pistol Team and the handling of firearms as set forth in the Explorer Program Manual, BSA, FSEA and MCSO General Orders.
G.Post Officers: Post Senior Advisors may appoint Post Officers at their discretion. Appointments will be based on written and/or oral exam.
H.Finances
1.The Explorer Post will be financed independent of the Sheriff’s Office.
2.Monthly dues may be determined by a majority vote of the Post members and collected monthly.
3.Special fund-raising events may be held to help cover Post activity expenses.
4.Donations may be received for services performed by the Post for traffic and crowd control at private or community functions and will be deposited into the Post’s bank account.
5.An Explorer Post may request funds from the Sheriff’s Office for specific needs.
I.Participation: Prospective Explorers must:
1.be between the ages of ten (10) and twenty-one (21)
2.attend three (3) consecutive Post meetings, complete an application and pass an oral board prior to being accepted as a Post member
3.be law abiding and free from any school disciplinary action
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4.maintain a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average
5.be willing to work a minimum of 20 hours per month for the Explorer Post in assigned duties, meetings, activities and details
J.Authority: Explorers are not law enforcement officers, accordingly they shall not:
1.in any way act or present themselves in the capacity of law enforcement officers
2.in any way interfere with the duties of any law enforcement officer
3.carry any weapon, lethal or non-lethal with the following exceptions:
a.When participating in Explorer Pistol Team Tournaments
b.When under the direct supervision of an Advisor for the purpose of practice or training
K.Uniforms: Explorers will comply with the Operations Manual, Chapter 9. The Explorer uniform shirt will differ from that of a Deputy to eliminate them being confused with Deputies.
L.Discipline: Explorers will comply with the MCSO Operations Manual and the Explorer Program Manual concerning discipline
M.Activities: Law Enforcement Explorers may participate in the following activities as opportunities present themselves:
1.Florida Sheriff’s Explorer Association meetings and activities
2.Explorer Academy
3.Law Enforcement Explorer competition
4.Social functions as organized by the Post
5.Invited to participate in annual Office picnics and Christmas dinners
6.Field trips as organized by the Post
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