Firing guns, staging traffic stops and riding along with police officers are just some of the activities junior Sarah Blankenburg is able to participate in as part of the Police Explorers program.

Police Explorers is a group conducted by St. Louis Park police available for students and adults ages 14 to 21. According to Blankenburg, the program is independent of the high school but targets students as the main demographic to participate.

Blankenburg said she thinks the program offers an educational experience for students interested in going into police work as a career.

“It allows kids interested in law enforcement to try it out now,” Blankenburg said. “They conduct mock scenarios of a police officer like hostage negotiation, traffic stops and ride alongs.”

Officer John Herman, who supervises the group, said he thinks students can learn important life skills through the program.

“Police Explorers teaches self confidence, leadership and the ability to speak in front of crowds,” he said. “Members go into police scenarios and are charged with leading them.”

Junior Ashraf Mohamed said he likes the idea of seeing a police officer at work.

“It would be a fantastic thing for someone interested in being a cop to do,” Mohamed said. “Before they choose their future, they get to see what it is like. I think if they offered this for other careers, lots of students would be interested.

Police Explorers is part of a nationwide program, in which students can compete at local, state and national levels, according to Herman. Each city in Minnesota offering the program qualifies for the state competition in Rochester.

At the state competition, members compete against delegates from other cities in competitive police scenarios. If members perform particularly well at the state competition, they may qualify for the national competition in Indianapolis.

Blankenburg said the national competition is not held every year, so this year it will be an incentive for members to devote themselves to the program.

“Nationals is only every two years, so at state everyone will want to qualify,” she said.

Students interested in joining Police Explorers can contact Officers John Herman and Matt Blomsness by calling (952) 928-1461. Weekly meetings are held from 6:30 to 9:30 every Tuesday at the Police Department. According to Herman, students will be able to join until mid October.

Firing guns, staging traffic stops and riding along with police officers are just some of the activities junior Sarah Blankenburg is able to participate in as part of the Police Explorers program.

Police Explorers is a group conducted by St. Louis Park police available for students and adults ages 14 to 21. According to Blankenburg, the program is independent of the high school but targets students as the main demographic to participate.

Blankenburg said she thinks the program offers an educational experience for students interested in going into police work as a career.

“It allows kids interested in law enforcement to try it out now,” Blankenburg said. “They conduct mock scenarios of a police officer like hostage negotiation, traffic stops and ride alongs.”

Officer John Herman, who supervises the group, said he thinks students can learn important life skills through the program.

“Police Explorers teaches self confidence, leadership and the ability to speak in front of crowds,” he said. “Members go into police scenarios and are charged with leading them.”

Junior Ashraf Mohamed said he likes the idea of seeing a police officer at work.

“It would be a fantastic thing for someone interested in being a cop to do,” Mohamed said. “Before they choose their future, they get to see what it is like. I think if they offered this for other careers, lots of students would be interested.

Police Explorers is part of a nationwide program, in which students can compete at local, state and national levels, according to Herman. Each city in Minnesota offering the program qualifies for the state competition in Rochester.

At the state competition, members compete against delegates from other cities in competitive police scenarios. If members perform particularly well at the state competition, they may qualify for the national competition in Indianapolis.

Blankenburg said the national competition is not held every year, so this year it will be an incentive for members to devote themselves to the program.

“Nationals is only every two years, so at state everyone will want to qualify,” she said.

Students interested in joining Police Explorers can contact Officers John Herman and Matt Blomsness by calling (952) 928-1461. Weekly meetings are held from 6:30 to 9:30 every Tuesday at the Police Department. According to Herman, students will be able to join until mid October.