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Pasco Teens Exploring Law Enforcement

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: October 1, 2008

Uh-oh. Alex Valdez was in trouble. He had just been pulled over by Kevin Beckman and Joshua Short in a sheriff's car, lights flashing. Arrayed in crisp uniform and speaking politely and professionally, Beckman put the18-year-old Valdez through a series of field sobriety tests.

At the end of the tests, Beckman's manner changed from a no-nonsense deputy to that of the 18 year old he is. "You're drunk," he joked to a smiling Valdez, who was only playing the part of a driver over his limit.

Beckman, Valdez and Short are members of Explorer Post 916, an organization sponsored by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office for young people from 14 to 21 with a minimum 2.0 GPA who are interested in law enforcement. The three were participating in a hands-on learning exercise on field sobriety tests.

The post is part of the Exploring program of the Boy Scouts of America, according to Cpl. Doug Theodore, the program's senior advisor and a floating school resource officer in Pasco County.

The Explorer program has 28 active members from a cross section of Pasco County. Three of the Explorers are girls.

"We have kids into sports and kids who are academic achievers," explains Theodore. "We have them from all walks of life."

At a weekly meeting at Safety Town, the Sheriff's Office-run education center on S.R. 52, nine miles east of Hudson, students cover a variety of law enforcement topics, including radio communications, domestic violence and traffic stops.

In a typical pattern, Theodore presents the lesson during one class. For the next three weeks, students flush out the concept in hands-on learning, as did Beckman, Valdez and Short in the field sobriety test exercises. They are allowed to use Theodore's patrol car under supervision when participating in training exercises.

Once they complete basic training, they can wear the Explorer uniform. They work themselves up the ranks beginning with Explorer to that of major. To progress on the rank scale, they must pass an oral board examination of set questions for each rank given by four of their peers.

The test evidently is not a snap. In the last set of examinations, three out of 10 applicants did not make the grade.

The young people do not earn their Explorer badges until they complete a one-week training academy covering subjects including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, police ethics and navigating an obstacle course. Once they get their badges, they are eligible to ride with deputies, an activity both deputies and Explorers enjoy, said Theodore.

At a yearly banquet, the sheriff officially pins the badges on the Explorers when they graduate. As long as anyone can remember funeral home director Thomas Dobies has footed the bill for the entire affair.

The present group has 15 Explorers, four corporals, five sergeants, two lieutenants, one captain and one major, who is post commander.

Beckman, who conducted the field sobriety tests in the training exercises, is the post commander. "It has taken a lot of my shyness out of me," he says of the program. But confidence builder though it is, it is not for everyone, notes Beckman. "It's not something for someone to drop their kids off or for someone to join because they are shy. They need to have some interest in law enforcement."

Like other Explorers who Theodore says now work in law enforcement agencies, Beckman is shooting for a career as a carrier compliance officer with the Florida Department of Transportation.

The students earn money for their program by manning parking operations for community organizations and receiving donations in return that allow them to buy uniforms and equipment. The only dollars the Sheriff's Office chips in is for Theodore's time with the students, Theodore says.

He clearly enjoys his students. "You don't hear too many good things about kids nowadays," he says. "I've got the group who can prove everyone wrong."

Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 or cbentley@suncoastnews.com.

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