Gulfport Police Explorers Program Provides Experience for Area Youth

You may have seen them at a Bogie basketball game, or at Springfest or the Tangerine Blues Fest; they are the young adults wearing blue shirts and black pants, with radios and badges. They are not officers, at least not yet, they are the Gulfport Police Explorers and these aspiring law enforcement individuals go through a rigorous training process that includes classroom and hands-on police procedures designed to further a potential career in law enforcement.

Under the guidance of Gulfport PD Detective Hanh Pham, the organization is open to 14-21 year olds and has requirements that include at least a 2.0 GPA, attendance to required meetings and the ability to handle shooting a Glock 17 and Glock 19, which are provided by the Gulfport P.D. Once or twice a month the students are taken to the St. Pete Pistol Club, who generously donates free time on the shooting range.

The students learn discipline and respect as well as basic police procedures like traffic stops, crowd control and crime scene detection. Each candidate must also pass a background check.

Police Explorers Captain Sam Smith, a senior at Boca Ciega High School, has been with the program for three years, has a commendation for Marksmanship and is planning on entering SPC in the fall as a Criminal Justice major. His rank in the Police Explorers is the equivalent of the Gulfport Chief of Police.

“I want a career in law enforcement and that requires at least a two year degree to be able to apply to the St. Pete Police Academy. I plan on studying Criminal Justice, earn my degree and apply to the Academy. I want to be a police officer.”

Several of the Explorers are interested in pursuing careers other than a patrol officer. Two of the young women, Elizabeth Poloney and Sara Hack want to be forensic anthropologists and have started looking at colleges with that specialty.  Charleston Fritts and James Garner are both football players for Bogie; Fritts at first wasn’t sure about being a cop, but is now leaning towards it. Garner wants to join the Marines.  Bogie graduate Colleen Hargett has already completed a year of Criminal Justice at SPC and deploys June 14 for the Navy. She is currently holds the rank of Lieutenant, second in command for the Explorers.

Elizabeth Poloney’s younger sister Anastasia Poloney, a freshman, is also looking at a career in law enforcement.

Seated at the table during the meeting was 14-year-old Amanda Fleck, who was attending her third meeting, a requirement of the Police Explorers.

“That’s to see if a candidate is really interested and also to let them see the work and commitment required for this organization, Detective Pham said.

The Explorers have other advisors besides Det. Pham. Elizabeth Hayden and Seth Thayres, who both went through the Police Explorer program, are visiting temporarily. Hayden is set to re-deploy as a Navy Police officer and Thayres will be moving back into the area from Philadelphia, where he was involved in Government law enforcement. Hayden jokes about her time with the Explorers; when she was in the program, a young patrolman, then Lieutenant’s voice kept ringing in her ears… that of now Chief Robert Vincent.

“He’s my moral compass,” she said seriously. Then she laughed, “Every time I called him up, he had a different rank. It’s been hard to keep up with his career,” she quipped.

Officer Tiffany Ashcom arrived at the meeting with the Police Explorers new mascot, a 3-year-old German Sheppard named Rocco. The Explorers felt they needed a mascot and Rocco fit the bill perfectly. Ashcom has graciously donated Rocco’s presence when needed at functions and fundraisers.  

This program has an annual set budget from the Gulfport Police Department of $1,000.00 and relies on fundraisers to defray other operating costs for equipment and additional training.

If you would like to donate to the Gulfport Police Explorers, you may do so at: Gulfport Police Explorers Post 995, in care of the Gulfport Police Department 2401 53^rd St. South, Gulfport, Florida 33707.