By:Laura Lane
Kelly, 17, an East Meadow High School senior, attends meetings twice a month at the Nassau County Emergency Services building in Bellmore. To take part in the program, she must live in Nassau County, pay dues to pay for her police uniform and be 14 to 21 years old.
Before joining the Young Explorers last year, she had planned to become a corrections officer. After being a Young Explorer, Kelly's changed her mind. Now she'd like to pursue a career as a police officer. What surprises Kelly is that, at times, strangers already believe she's one.
"I was in Dunkin Donuts in my police uniform, and someone really thought I was a cop," Kelly said. "The person asked me for directions, and when I told him I wasn't a cop, he got mad and didn't believe me."
Billy Telford, 17, of Merrick, said the Young Explorers program has put him closer to fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. "I was always interested in becoming a cop," the Calhoun graduate said. "I think being in this program gives me an edge. I'm trying to learn as much as I can to get an advantage to become a cop. And this is fun."
Danny Johannessen and Glen Neuman, First Precinct Problem Oriented Policing officers, also serve as Young Explorers advisers. One of their jobs is to recruit members, which they do by reaching out to high-school guidance counselors. Then they speak with students in criminal-justice classes.
When young people commit to joining the Young Explorers, Johannessen and Neuman take them to the various divisions of law enforcement. Members see the jail system, courts and the fire-service academy. They even go on "ride-alongs," a chance to sit in the police car and see how an officer responds to a crime.
Police Officer Lisa Charles, the county Young Explorers program coordinator, said membership in the group benefits participants even if they don't want to become police officers. "They get to see the many facets of the police department," Charles said. "This is good even for a teen who wants to be an attorney because they get to learn about the penal law."
All Nassau County precincts have Young Explorers programs. Johannessen and Neuman advise the 25 teenagers in the First Precinct's program. The officers said they find working with the young people rewarding. "I like the fact that we can give them a positive experience and an understanding of what law enforcement is like if they choose to do it," Johannessen said. "I really like to see their reaction."
Members take several trips a year. Sometimes they listen to presentations by the police department's various units. They may watch a trial or learn what's required to pass the police exam.
The program also gives teenagers a chance to help the community. Young Explorers members perform community service. Last year they held a clothing drive for the homeless, leaving bins at their high schools and local shopping centers. In uniform, they approached shoppers to request donations. After collecting numerous donations, the Young Explorers brought them to the county Department of Social Services.
Neuman and Johannessen also help members with their public speaking and leadership skills. "We want to try to get them independent as a group," Neuman said. "We'll let them choose officers, and they'll run the meeting. The program has really grown since last year, and I think that's because of positive word of mouth."
The group is diverse. There are many girls as well as boys who come from different backgrounds with different interests. Both police officers take advantage of this and said they team up young people who wouldn't interact otherwise, just as they would have to if they were real police officers.
Telford said he's met new friends in the Young Explorers program. He's enjoyed bowling with them and going to the Young Explorers picnic in Eisenhower Park.
Kelly said, "When I tell people I want to be a cop, they say, 'But you're a girl.' They don't get it." She added that she's made many friends in Young Explorers program, and is continually trying to get others to join. "And I've discovered in this program that being a police officer is who I am. Talking to all of the police officers, it's made me realize this is where I belong," Kelly said.
Comments? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
