Fifty years ago, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department helped establish Explorer Post #449, the nation’s first law enforcement Explorer Post.

It was set up by Sheriff James A. Musick to help introduce the best high school students to careers in law enforcement.

Last week the top performers of Post #449 were honored at the annual award dinner.

The dinner was held on March 26, 2009 at the Regional Training Facility in Tustin.  Post 449 also celebrated their 50th Anniversary as the First Law Enforcement Explorer Post in the Nation.  The Explorers worked in excess of 21,000 hours at 261 events throughout 2008.  These events occurred in Every Contract City and Sheriff’s Unincorporated patrol area as well as mutual aid events with other Police Explorer Posts throughout Orange County.  Of the 182 Explorers who worked events in 2008, the following received special recognition:

Retirements: After an Explorer turns 21, or leaves for Military Service, they receive a retirement plaque indicating the years of service.  Explorer Captain Yanira Rojo – 2004-2009, Explorer Lieutenant Jessica Ortega 2004-2008 and Explorer Lieutenant Alex Wong 2006-2009. 

Advisor of the Year:  Deputy Gregg Surrell.  Deputy Surrell was selected by his fellow Advisors to be the Advisor of the year.  Dep. Surrell has been an Advisor with Post 449 for about 3 years with the West Division.  Gregg’s experience as an explorer civilian traffic investigator, patrol officer with Irvine Police Department have made him a valuable asset to the West Division and Post 449.

Most worked Community Service Hours:  Explorer Lieutenant Lex Ogan worked 530 Community Service hours in 2008. Most Service Hours worked: Explorer Sgt. John Leahy worked a total of 640 hours in 2008. 

Recruitment Award:   Explorer Corporal Carla Gutierrez recruited 10 new Explorers to the Tri-cities Division in 2008. 

Spirit Award:  Explorer Sgt. Jessica Ortega from North Division, Explorer Lieutenant Jake Montes from Rancho Santa Margarita Division and Explorer Lieutenant Lex Ogan received a Spirit Award for their hard work and dedication to Explorer Post 449 in 2008. 

Leadership Award:  Explorer Sergeant Amanda McCarthy from Rancho Santa Margarita Division, and Explorer Sergeant Frank Salgado from West Division received a Leadership award for their Commitment and Leadership in 2008. 

Special Commendation:  On December 4, 2008, Explorer Oscar Gutierrez assisted and elderly, wheelchair bound woman escape from her burning second floor apartment building.  Explorer Gutierrez and an unidentified male carried the elderly woman down the flight of stairs to safety while smoke billowed from the building behind them.  Oscar demonstrated “Service before Self” during this incident.   This is one of the Core Values of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.  Risking personal injury to assist a neighbor and fellow citizen deserves a Special Commendation.

Explorer Of the Year: Explorer Captain Yanira Rojo. Explorer Captain Rojo was selected by the Advisors of Post 449 as the Explorer of the Year based on her leadership, dedication, consistency, motivation and setting the example for Post 449 in 2008. 

Post 449 would like to thank Professional Service Responder Jeff Schlom, Caren Ureda, President of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff’s – Sgt. Wayne Quint, President of the Association of County Law Enforcement Managers – Captain Jay Leflore, Drug Use is Life Abuse Executive Director Marilyn MacDougall, Oakley, Galls Uniform Center and manager Mike Sirianni, Orange County Peace Officer Association Store and  Botach Tactical for their generous donations to the Explorer Raffle.  

Explorer Post #449 appreciates the efforts of Assistant Sheriff Anderson who was the keynote speaker for the awards ceremony.  

Some of the events the Explorers of Post #449 participated in during 2008 included: The Peace Officer Memorial, The Sheriff’s Basic Academy Graduations, The Sheriff’s Reserve Academy Graduations, San Juan Capistrano’s Swallow’s Day Parade, Fire Fighter and Peace Officer Prayer Breakfast, numerous bicycle events and rodeos, DUI Checkpoints, Toshiba Champions Golf Tournament and the DUILA Golf Tournament.

There were competitions in Chandler, Arizona; Imperial Valley, Ca, Oxnard, Ca and local competitions in Orange County. Post # 449 Sheriff’s Explorers competed with and against other posts from throughout the nation. 

Explorer Post #449 has a Crime Scene Investigation Division headed by Director Dean Gialamas. Recently 3 explorers completed a 12 week CSI class taught by Forensic Specialist Lenora Pena-Sanchez and Lisa Zinn. The Explorers learned about collecting evidence, photography, fingerprinting and were able to participate in ride-a-longs with a Forensic Specialist.   

In 2008, 44 Explorers attended and completed the two Explorer academies at Los Alamitos Air Station and Camp Pendelton. These stress, live-in academies are held over 4 day weekends. The Explorers learn basic police procedures, radio codes, and participate in physical training. There are competitions for the obstacle course, pushups and police scenarios. Explorer Post #449 has always represented the Sheriff’s Department and themselves very well at these academies.

Explorers who are interested in a career with the Sheriff’s Department, now have access to excellent pre-employment training to prepare them for the testing process.   

History of the Explorer Post 449

During 1935, in response to a large number of aging Scouts the BSA created “Senior Scouting,” with age-specific programs for older boys with challenges appropriate for them.

1949: the BSA consolidated the senior programs, with the exception of Sea Scouts, into Explorer Scouts. At that time, a boy could be an Explorer in the troop or in a stand-alone unit called the Explorer post.

In November of 1959, Orange County Sheriff James A. Musick wanted "young men," who desired exposure in the field of law enforcement to be afforded the opportunity to do so. In a newspaper article he stated, "We organized the group after we found that other special interest Explorer Posts were taking our best young men from our high schools. We decided, rather than take what was left over after other fields of endeavor took the best, that we should start training young men of high school age now for a career in law enforcement."

Thus, the first Law Enforcement Exploring Post in the nation was established. Its purposes were, "To train young men of today for the future that awaits them in the law enforcement field of tomorrow. Post 449 began with twenty-eight explorers in Santa Ana who had to meet the qualifications of being "between 14 and 21, must maintain a "B" average in school, have a clean record, be of outstanding citizenship in their community and have a general reputation beyond reproach."

In 1973, after fifteen years of only young men being allowed in the Exploring program, Boy Scouts of America allowed young women to explore careers in law enforcement through membership in an Explorer Program. Maintaining the same high standards for qualification and training these young women diversified the Sheriff’s Department's Post.

When the residents of contract cities and the unincorporated county area need help they call the Sheriff's Department; when the Sheriff's Department needs help they call on their Explorers. The Orange County Sheriff's Explorer Post supports deputies during road closures caused by natural disasters such as mudslides, floods and forest fires. They complete search missions where either missing persons or evidence is sought, and are deployed to help us protect crime scene perimeters. This involvement, by the explorers, allows Deputies to be available for calls for service.

Explorers are also used to assist in public education.

They distribute brochures explaining changes in parking regulations or temporary street closures. During Bicycle Rodeo Events, Explorers demonstrate to children how to properly size and wear bicycle helmets. They offer child identification and crime awareness, through a "Kid-Print" program and assist in crime prevention demonstrations throughout the county.

The Department's Explorers serve the community by providing crowd and traffic control during Basic Academy Graduations, County Building Dedications, grand openings, Community awareness fairs, 10 K runs, parades and a multitude of other charitable events. The Post's Color guard is used to present the flag at City Council and County Board of Supervisor meetings, as well as scouting and civic events.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department Explorers participate in Law Enforcement competitions throughout the state. Through the use of the Department's "Laser Village" and its Training Staff, Post 449 Explorers have learned skills which enabled them to win several awards in Felony Car Stop, D.U.I., Bomb Threat and Search and Building Search scenarios. The Explorers also compete in Tug-of War, Volleyball and Obstacle Course competitions.

Sheriff's personnel, who volunteer as Advisors for the Department's Post, contribute countless hours exposing youths to Law Enforcement Careers. Their commitment to the advancement of the Exploring program goes beyond the Department's Post. The Department's Advisors also serve on the County-wide Organization as Ranking Officials, Academy Directors, Tactical Training Officers and Instructors at the Explorer Academy. In addition to Orange County, these Advisors have trained and taught Explorers from Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside and Ventura counties.