The Summerville Police Department’s Explorer Program was established in 1992 to provide a positive setting for young people to interact with law enforcement officers, further their education, encourage their participation in rewarding and productive service activities and possibly interest them in a law enforcement career. The Explorer Program also works to provide role models to help develop our future citizens and community leaders. The post is a joint effort between the Town of Summerville and The Boy Scouts of America. The goal of the Summerville Police Explorer Post is to develop professional Explorers through a program of adult leadership, training, experience, and safe police service activities.
The Explorer Post as a group and Explorers as individuals are encouraged to seek out worthwhile community service projects to participate in. The Explorers provide traffic direction and assist with crowd control at events such as the Elks Lodge Flag Day Ceremony, Red, White and Blue on the Green, Harvest Moon Hayride and Ghost Walk, Summerville Greenwave Football Games, the Flowertown Festival, Summerville Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting and many others.
The program is run by Jonathan James (Post Director) and many other law enforcement and civilian volunteers. All of the Advisors are volunteers and receive no compensation for their time.
The Explorer program is open to young men and women ages 15-20 (or 14 if they have completed the 8th grade) who;
- Have an overall “C” average with no failing grades
- Have no significant criminal history
- Have the ability and desire to be a team player
- Must be willing to attend weekly meetings, special events and other service activities as needed
Many of the Department’s Explorers continue their law enforcement education in college and pursue law enforcement careers. Currently former Summerville Police Explorers are serving or have served as law enforcement officers or related careers in:
- The Summerville Police Department
- All five branches of the US Military
- The SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
- Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office
- City of Charleston and North Charleston Police Departments
- SC Highway Patrol
- Departments in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and many others
Many of the area’s explorer posts are run by Law Enforcement Advisors who started as Summerville Police Explorers.
Each year a different South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency hosts a competition in which Explorers from across the State as well as Explorers from Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia come together and compete in Law Enforcement related events such as:
- Legals Knowledge, Accident Report Writing, Incident Report Writing
- Physical Agility
- High Risk Traffic Stops
- Unknown Risk Traffic Stops and Courtroom Testimony
- Crisis Intervention
- Arrest Warrants
- Drug Search Warrants
- Active Shooter
- Officer Down Rescue
- Building Entry
- Emergency Vehicle Operation
- Firearms / Pistol Competition
