Exploring Program

Meeting Dates and Times | Contact Information

The Fort Worth Police Department Exploring Program began in 1984. Whether seeking information in a law enforcement career or just wanting to know about the criminal justice system, Exploring is for young adults between the ages of 14 and 21 years old who share an interest in Law Enforcement. Through training and actual ride-outs with officers on the street, Explorers learn every aspect of law enforcement through actual hands on training. The Fort Worth Police Department Exploring program is chartered through the Boy Scouts of America.

Through weekly meetings Explorers are taught by some of the best instructors in subjects such as, building searches, felony traffic stop, accident investigation, hostage negotiations, firearm safety, crime scene search, and many other topics. After a six month probation with the program, Explorers are allowed to ride-out with officers on the street during their eight hour shift. An Explorer provides the officer with a second set of eyes while on patrol. The Explorer will be able to assist the officer with communications via the radio or the mobile data computer. They also are able to help the officer gather information at different calls.

Exploring is open to both males and females at least fourteen years old and in the ninth grade, or fifteen years old. You must also either be attending school, have graduated, or have already acquired a GED. You must either live in the Fort Worth City limits, attend a Fort Worth Independent School, or be related to an employee of the City of Fort Worth. After being accepted into the program, you will be required to purchase the uniforms as outlined in the Explorers’ Standard Operating Procedures.

Explorers also do many other things as a group. Explorers volunteer to do community service projects such as crime fairs and graffiti removal throughout the year. They also help out with the Santa Cop program. They attend local and statewide competitions and go to area scout camps for the weekend.

Many Explorers have continued with their career goals and have become Police Officers either with the Fort Worth Police Department or one of the other local agencies. Some have continued with a career not as a Police Officer but as a civilian employee working in communications or one of the other support positions.

The opportunities of an Explorer are endless. You not only learn teamwork, but leadership as well, and you’ll also meet new friends. You’ll view the city like no one else has. Explorers are given tasks and assignments like no one else their age.

For more information, please contact one of the following Explorer Post Advisors:

Coordinator: Officer Rebecca Colwell(817) 871-6512
Rebecca.Colwell@fortworthgov.org

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