NEW LATHROP POLICE
DEPARTMENT
EXPLORER PROGRAM
PROPOSAL
ITEM 5.4
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
June 9, 2025
Overview
• The City of Lathrop Police
Department is proposing a youthcentered Explorer Program. • Designed to engage residents or
students between the ages of 14–20
who have an interest in law
enforcement or public service.
• The program aligns with the
department’s commitment to
community policing and mentorship
by offering hands-on experience in
law enforcement.
• The program was presented to
Council during the May 12, 2025 City
Council Meeting. Council requested
Staff to collect additional data and
return with the results. *Image Caption: POLICE EXPLORERS POSING FOR A PICTURE
DURING AN EVENT
Explorer Program Data Collected
• External Survey
• Internal Survey
• Research Study
Image Caption: Lathrop Community Resource Officer posing for a picture with his advisor during graduation of the Explorer Program External Survey
• An external survey was
distributed to seventeen
regional law enforcement
agencies identified as
operating active Explorer
or Cadet Programs, with
the goal of collecting data
on program structure,
outcomes, costs, and
perceived value.
• Of the seventeen agencies
contacted, five
acknowledged receipt of
the survey, and three
submitted completed
responses at the time of
this presentation.
Image Caption: Stockton Unified School
District Police Explorers posing with awards
from competition.
Image Caption: Tracy Police Explorers sitting in
classroom.
Image Caption: Valverde School District
Police Explorers posing for picture.
Image Caption: Sacramento Sheriff’s
Explorers posing for a picture.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department:
• Enrollment averages between 20 to 30 Explorers annually, with a peak of 45 before the COVID-19 pandemic. • The program has produced 16 graduates currently working in law enforcement, with one to two hired annually by the department. • The program is viewed as a vital tool for recruitment and community engagement, with its primary value rooted in teaching leadership, service, and civic partnership while helping bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.
Tracy Police Department:
• The program enrolls about 10 to 12 Explorers annually. • Over 20 former Explorers pursued careers in law enforcement or related roles, including several currently employed by the City of Tracy. • The program’s strength lies in its expert-led, hands-on training approach, shaped by experienced advisors including officers, detectives, and SWAT members.
Valverde School District Police Department:
• Annual enrollment of 12 to 18 students, the program offers personalized mentorship and hands-on experiences. • A significant outcome of the program is its success in guiding youth toward careers in public safety, with approximately 65–75% of graduates pursuing professions in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields. • The Explorer Program acts as a meaningful bridge between students, law enforcement, and the broader community, fostering personal growth and professional direction.
Key Findings
• An internal survey was distributed to all sworn and non-sworn personnel of the Lathrop Police Department to assess prior involvement in Police Explorer Programs or other youth-focused law enforcement or leadership initiatives. • The objective was to evaluate the extent of staff engagement with these types of programs and to understand their perceived impact on career development within the field of law enforcement. Additionally, the survey aimed to gauge interest and attitudes toward serving as mentors or advisors in future youth programs, helping inform the department’s capacity to support the implementation of the Explorer Program.
Internal Survey
Lathrop Police Department
• Five officers reported having prior involvement in a Law Enforcement Explorer Program, either as former Explorers or as advisors at previous agencies.
• All five officers credited the program with significantly influencing their decision to pursue careers in law
enforcement. Four of these officers are currently interested in becoming advisors for the department’s own Explorer Program, demonstrating a continued commitment to youth engagement and mentorship.
• Respondents emphasized the broader value of youth-oriented law enforcement programs, highlighting their role in building community trust and providing positive early exposure to policing.
• The collective feedback underscored strong departmental support for launching an Explorer Program, citing its impact on youth development, community relations, and long-term
recruitment strategies. Image Caption: Student and Lathrop Police School Resource Officer hugging.
• Kathryn McCurdy's 2006 paper, "Are Explorer Programs Effective Recruiting Tools for Law Enforcement Agencies?" examines the efficacy of Explorer programs in fostering youth interest in law enforcement careers. These programs, affiliated with Learning for Life and the Boy Scouts of America, serve as a bridge between young individuals and law enforcement agencies by providing youth with hands-on experiences in law enforcement, aiming to develop leadership, and life skills. • A key point of analysis was the structure of these programs, which typically include training, mentorship, and ride-along opportunities. McCurdy also evaluated whether the cost of maintaining such programs is justified by the recruitment returns they provide. Through surveys and interviews with both law enforcement personnel and former Explorers, the study examined the real-world impact of these initiatives.
Law Enforcement Research Study
• Program Reach: Approximately 50,000 youth participate in over 4,000 law enforcement Explorer posts across the United States.
• Recruitment Potential: Many law enforcement agencies utilize Explorer programs as a recruitment tool, with some hiring directly from these programs.
• Influence on Career Choices: Former Explorers often cite the program as a significant influence on their decision to pursue law enforcement careers.
• Program Benefits: The program emphasizes career opportunities, leadership experience, character education, citizenship, and life skills.
• Skill Development: Participants develop essential skills, including leadership, teamwork, and problemsolving, which are crucial for a successful career in law enforcement. • Career Pathway: The programs serve as a recruitment pipeline, with many former Explorers pursuing careers in law enforcement, thereby addressing staffing challenges within agencies. • Community Engagement: By involving youth in community-oriented activities, Explorer programs enhance the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
Key Findings
Fiscal Impact & Next Steps
Funding Plan:
• Proposed funding from Cannabis Business Tax revenue per Development Agreement. • 50% of Police Department’s cannabis fund allocation to cover Explorer Program. • Funds will be incorporated into the City’s biennial budget if approved.
Next Steps:
• Complete program registration with Learning for Life. • Conduct police explorer advisor meetings.
• Community outreach and youth recruitment.
Staff Recommendation:
• Approve proposed funding to cover program costs, uniforms, transportation and training equipment.
• Approve a resolution to establish the Lathrop Police Department Explorer Program.