LAKE COUNTY — What were California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers like in high school?
To get a glimpse look no further than the disciplined group in the CHP Explorer Program.
The CHP Explorer Program is a training course designed to develop California”s youth into “responsible and productive citizens through discipline and a commitment to serving their community.”
It offers people ages 15 to 20 a chance to learn the basic skills and tactics of the CHP. It is especially useful for those who eventually wish to become a cadet at the CHP Academy.
Explorer Post 151, which trains at the Clear Lake Area CHP headquarters, consists of about 17 trainees who meet twice a month (sometimes more) to work alongside CHP officers for tactical training through simulated situations.
This hands-on approach is a valuable step for any youth wishing to enter a career in law enforcement.
According to CHP Officer Kory Reynolds, one of six advisors who donate their time to train Explorers, “The Explorer program is under the recruiting section, so what that means is that these kids are going to have a leg up when it comes to hiring. Basically, they come in here and they get to do ride-alongs with officers, they get to work in the office. They get to do everything we do except shoot the guns and drive the cars. It”s kind of like a job-shadowing thing.”
Tony Cortez, a 19-year-old sergeant in the Explorer Program, has been in the program for more than two years. His ultimate goal is to become accepted in the CHP Academy and knows the training he receives as an Explorer will help him achieve his goal.
“I hope to use this as a bridge to get into the department,” Cortez said.
Antonio Castellanos, a 20-year-old Explorer captain, credits the program for leading him toward a career in law enforcement.
“My sophomore year of high school I went on a job shadow with CHP. I was just hooked. The rush you get doing the U-turn and going 100 miles per hour to catch up to a guy going 80. It was just awesome. So after that day, I knew what I wanted to be,” Castellanos said.
Each year, Explorer Programs from California to Arizona send the most advanced members to compete in the Central Coast Law Enforcement Explorer Competition. More than 40 posts will descend on Paso Robles at the end of this month to match skills in law enforcement scenarios ranging from DUI stops to domestic violence calls.
Post 151 will be represented by eight of its finest Explorers for the approaching competition and have increased their training accordingly.
Wednesday evening, CHP Officer and Explorer advisor Efrain Cortez monitored two Explorers as they simulated a DUI stop. “Right now we”re doing a full DUI investigation, from the time of the stop to the probable cause, all the way down to the field sobriety tests, the arrest and handcuffing. The whole works,” Cortez said.
As the simulation progressed, complete with CHP vehicles and sirens, Explorers Castellanos and Jack Woida guided a “drunk driver” through all the procedures of a DUI stop, paying special attention to the driver”s safety and maintaining a calm, authoritative voice while being harassed by the unruly suspect.
Protocol is paramount to law enforcement and the training of the Explorers is undeniable.
As Castellanos and Woida take all the official steps to detain the suspect, it is easy to forget these two are merely training. They are dedicated and committed, a common trait throughout the entire program and a strong indication that Post 151 is going to need a bigger trophy room.
