YORK COUNTY— A new explorer program is set to launch this spring at the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, designed to give youth a behind the scenes look at potential careers in law enforcement.
Explorer Post 159 is a joint effort between the sheriff’s office and Boy Scouts of America. Participants learn about the many facets of law enforcement — from patrol duties to investigations and support roles — helping them decide if they want to pursue the career.
Explorers receive structured training on police procedures, law, ethics, public safety, leadership, and teamwork. The program also builds relationships between youth and law enforcement, strengthening trust and mutual understanding.
The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office held an open house about the post on Feb. 18. Potential participants were informed of the commitment, responsibilities, and training that will be provided.
“Our Explorer Post 159 Open House was a huge success. It was great to see such strong interest and enthusiasm in the room, and the turnout was a very pleasant surprise. I’m really looking forward to continuing to grow this program and am excited to see where it goes from here,” Deputy First Class Trey Ulintz said.
The program is open to area youth between 14-20 years of age that are in good academic standing. Explorers must have good character and provide parental consent to participate in the program. Applications for the program are being accepted on a rolling basis, with at least five youth interested in the program to begin.
A one time $100 annual scouting fee applies to the program. The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office will provide uniforms for the duration of the program.
For more information on joining the Law Enforcement Explorer Program with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, reach out to Deputy First Class Trey Ulintz at 757-890-3677 or Deputy First Class Kevin Taylor at 757-890-3639.