Menlo Park Police has an active police explorer unit sponsored by the police department. The program is organized through the Explorer program of the Pacific Skyline Council of Boy Scouts of America. MPPD Explorer Post #844 is chartered by and organized through the Exploring Division of the Boy Scouts of America. The Post began in 1969 when a handful of young people interested in law enforcement decided they wanted to learn more about police work. With the help of several dedicated police officers the Post was formed.

Its purpose was then and still today is to have a program in which young adults could closely examine and work with the Police Department of Menlo Park. It is not aimed solely at those persons who are interested in becoming police officers but at all qualified persons who are interested in finding out what their police officers do and in serving their community.

Young men and women between the ages of 14-21 years of age join the explorer program to learn about their potential future careers. Read more....

Explorers perform a wide variety of volunteer duties within the Police Department and for the community as a whole. Explorers perform tasks such as; patrol ride-along observations, assisting in the police records office, and assisting with departmental manpower needs for special police activities such as parades, traffic control, large gatherings, school dances and community events. All explorers attend a regional Explorer Academy to learn the basics of police work. They receive training in first aid, CPR, crime prevention, evidence searches, criminal law, police science and many other law enforcement topics. The main purpose of the program is to give young adults the opportunity to observe and learn.

Some MPPD Explorer Post activities include:

• Traveling to National and Regional Law Enforcement Explorer Conferences
• Regional competitions
  
• Camping or other fun out-of-town trips

• Members must have reached their fourteenth birthday and may be no older than twenty-one years. Applications may be submitted at age 13 ½ years.
• Members must be in good health and of good moral character
  
• Members must demonstrate maturity, honesty and responsibility. A record of criminal violations may be grounds for disqualification.
• Members must be sincere, willing to work and have an interest in Law Enforcement
  
• Members must maintain at least a 2.0 or C average while attending high school or college
  

Applications are available online and can be submitted along with the Agreement And Waiver form to:

Menlo Park Police Department
Attn: Explorer Program
701 Laurel Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025

For more information, contact Officer Victoria Martinez, Lead Explorer Advisor, at vlmartinez@menlopark.org or 650-330-6300 ext 806, or Detective Christine Powell, at capowell@menlopark.org or 650-330-6364.