Phoenix Police Explorers Post 2906 Spring 2013 1

Phoenix Police Department Spring 2013

T H E E X P L O R E R P O S T 2 9 0 6 “ In tegr i t y , du ty , honor , p r ide—Phoen ix Exp lo rers hav e i t ins ide !”

McGruff and CAPT Cooper. Smith visit a new friend

at St Luke’s 40th Annual Egg Hunt in March.

From the Advisor Desk: Officer D. Burrow

The start of Spring brings an end to our busy competition season and begins plans for an equally busy Summer. We started strong in January with an Explorer Parent Open House, with 43 parents and guardians in attendance. The Post bid farewell to LT A. Lopez and SGT

Hillhouse, both strong supporters of the Explorer program. We send them thanks and wish them well in their future endeavors with the Department. Welcome SGT J. Benza and LT

K. Mitchell to ESB; we appreciate the support they have already shown; LT K. Mitchell out in the rain with us at our carseat installation detail and SGT J. Benza attending our Scottsdale Competition Team event. With 48 Explorers and Recruits active in the Post, we need and appreciate the support of our Command Staff, officers and volunteers. This is Competition time, when Police Explorers put their months of training to work. Three big events concluded with trophies coming home to 620 from the Chandler Tactical Competition

and Scottsdale Competition. The Mesa

Teambuilding Challenge gave our Explorers the opportunity to team with other Police Explorers from around Arizona to share their training, build friendships and enjoy some new

challenges as they participated in various realistic law enforcement scenarios. Soon C.E.R.T. training will begin, with all Explorers required to become proficient in Community

Emergency Response, adding one more way they can be of service. All Recruits and Explorers have been participating in our Career

Pathway Program, where they design resumes and will learn interview skills and techniques that will be useful in the future, hopefully with the goal of future employment within the City of Phoenix.

I am so proud of our graduating Explorers who are moving on to City employment, military careers or attending universities (many with scholarships). Some Explorers have been with our Post for 4 or more years, so it is tough to say goodbye, but we celebrate their successes! We are preparing for the Phoenix Police Explorer

Post Academy Class #13-20 to be held the first 2 weeks of June. This rigorous training for 50 Explorer recruits (15 selected from our Post) attracts participants from 8 area law enforcement agencies. With all classes taught by AZ P.O.S.T. certified Law Enforcement Instructors with their current approved curriculum, there is always a waiting list for this popular annual event. Many of our Explorer Command Staff will assist in helping the two weeks run smoothly.

Lead Advisor Burrow with team actors (participating

in the Marijuana Field Raid) at Chandler Competition

The final week of June will see qualified Explorers attending our Teambuilding

Leadership Conference in SW Colorado; a chance to build leadership skills and power down after a demanding academic and Post year. With hundreds of hours of community service provided since the beginning of 2013, we head into the coming months with more to learn and more to offer.

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Chandler Tactical Competition: Where it all comes together!

The 13th

Annual Law Enforcement Tactical Competition attracted 63 Police Explorer Posts from around the US. With almost a thousand participants January 19-20, it was sponsored by Chandler Police. Our Post team of 11 trained intensively every Saturday for 3 months, with Ret. SAU Officer Lenny Wood and Volunteer Advisor Larry Anders giving their time to bring the group up to competition level. Members included: Kevin Jones, Cody Carpenter, Joshua Davis, Orlando Gonzalez, Nick Marek, Roy Rogers,

Ian Villavincencio, Zoe Anaya, Acacia Anaya, Velia Rincon and Marley Vore. Words the team used to describe the days included: “amazing, educational, exciting, a life-learning experience, cool, nerve-

wracking and challenging”. All agreed that being part of a team built trust and confidence.

Teams competed in 5 selected events, with almost 20 events running concurrently throughout the day. Optional choices such as the climbing wall, obstacle course and TK-4 armored vehicle pull attracted the team between scheduled competitions. A 3 foot high trophy came home to 620 with a second place in Undercover OPS, a scenario that took place with an “officer down” on a narcotics raid in the shadows and darkness of an industrial area.

Post 2906 also provided 21 actors to staff the events; acting as ‘bad guys’ in events as varied as a marijuana field raid (“cold and freezing”) and assault on a train car (“cool and awesome”) to being hostages in a crisis negotiations scenario (“tiring and interesting”). It was two days that started well before sunrise and ended after dark, but provided the real world experiences and opportunity to use their training that Police Explorers crave. Plans are already being made for ways to excel there in 2014!

High Risk Vehicle Stop, the TK-4 Pull and Obstacle Course were events where Post 2906 gave their all!

DIAMONDBACKS BASEBALL! EXPLORER HONOR GUARD! BE THERE MAY 9th!!

Join us May 9 as the D-Backs take on the Phillies! Our own Explorer Honor Guard will be presenting the colors! This is a fundraiser for the Post, so show your support! Tickets are only $25. each, and are GREAT SEATS! (Sections 133 and 134). Contact Officer D. Burrow for tickets SOON. doug.burrow@phoenix.gov or 602-534-6334. SEE YOU THERE!!

Phoenix Explorer Post 2906 Spring 2013 3

2013 Graduates, Scholars, Military Enlistees and New City Employees! May brings changes to many of our Post members. We congratulate our Class of 2013 graduates who are off to higher education or the US military! Emily Medina, Franklin Police & Fire HS/Phoenix CC; Tyra Tayes, Tempe HS-NAU-Psychology; Joaquin Bueno, Franklin Police & Fire HS-NAU: Mechanical Engineering; L. Johnathan Sanchez, Boulder Creek HS-Estrella CC; Orlando Gonzalez, Franklin Police & Fire HS-goal-Marines; Cooper Smith, Westwind Prep-US Army-MP; Nick Marek, Desert Vista HS-San Diego State: ROTC; Zoe Anaya, Franklin Police & Fire HS/NAU-Psychology.

Explorer Post 2906 bids farewell to LT Lopez & SGT Hillhouse in January

Because Explorers are eligible to stay in the Post through 21, we are pleased that the following graduates

will continue with us: Velia Rincon, Horizon HS-Paradise Valley CC-Forensic Accounting; Sarahy

Garcia, South Ridge HS-ASU: Engineering; Francisca Salazar, Cesar Chavez HS-ASU; Cody

Carpenter, Pinnacle HS-Paradise Valley CC/NAU; Gabriel Villa, Carl Hayden HS-Phoenix CC Law Enforcement; Rebekah Torres, South Ridge HS-ASU; Carsen Vaughn, Shadow Mountain HS-Scottsdale Community College. Our Explorers juggle school, jobs and community service like the stars they are!

Joining Cooper Smith (Army) in the military is Marley Vore, currently at Paradise Valley CC. On May 15 she reports to Army Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC. Assistant CMDR Vore will then be entering 37 weeks of EOD Training at Ft. Lee, Virginia and will complete her Criminal Justice degree while serving. Best wishes go to all our Explorers heading out to serve America!

Major scholarships were awarded to these outstanding young adults:

CMDR Zoe Anaya: NAU “Lumberjack Special” totaling $72K. Anaya will be majoring in Forensic Psychology with the goal of joining the FBI as a Behavioral Analyst. She has been a member of Post 2906 for 4 years. She leaves us in June to attend NAU’s STAR program, setting her up for a successful transition to university life! Nick Marek received a full ride to San Diego State/ROTC in the amount of $180K. Recruit Tyra Tayes received full tuition at NAU based on academic excellence; valued at $72K, she plans to major in Forensic Psychology. LT Velia Rincon has her first year of tuition covered based on academic excellence at PVCC. Her goal is a law enforcement career in Forensic Accounting. LT Emily Medina enters Phoenix CC as a sophomore, having accumulated 24 credit hours in high school! SGT Sarahy

Garcia has received $40K in scholarships to ASU’s College of Engineering. She will study Computer Systems/Information Assurance and apply it to the law enforcement field career! Well done, best wishes!!

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C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e : W e ’ v e g o t i t c o v e r e d !

Rain or shine, the Post puts in hundreds of hours a month in Community Service. This quarter’s Details were varied as usual, including our Honor Guard marching with Chief Garcia in the UPEM Parade; helping polish memorials on the Capitol Plaza for Statehood Day; VIN Etching; and providing general assistance at four Citizen’s Police Academies. Especially educational was a Light Rail Emergency Drill, where Volunteer Advisor Larry Anders gave his all by “dying” on the tracks.

A very damp January day found us at the PPD

Traffic Bureau/ADHS Safe Kids Coalition Carseat Installation Detail, where Recruit S.

Alliger notes “We carried boxes and water and directed the vehicles where they needed to park for carseat help. The parents that came with their kids seemed genuinely enthusiastic towards any help we would give. It was pouring the entire time we were there, but we were cold, soaked and happy. Happy because we got to participate and help things run more smoothly.” SGT D. Sesmas writes “About 15 Explorers attended that day, and sadly, it was raining! To add to things, Officer Burrow locked himself out of the Explorer van with our donuts and hot chocolate!” But it all ended well, with dozens of families getting expert carseat installation. Kudos to LT K. Mitchell for braving the elements and supporting the Post.

February is a busy Scouting month, and Post 2906 wowed many of the thousands attending the Annual Scout-o-Rama with their Felony Stop demonstration. With half our Post participating, local Scouts had the chance to learn more about Police Exploring. SGT J.

Davis, ASST CMDRS K. Jones and M. Vore took the opportunity to do hands-on training for a new Police Explorer Post from the Surprise

PD, showing them how to handle event traffic at this University of Phoenix Stadium event. Another large 2906 group attended the BSA Camporee held at Westworld, assisting at 2 days of events where Scouts trained in fire, medical and police tactics and techniques.

McGruff may take a bite out of crime, but he would

never hurt the Bunny! Thanks to 5 of our Explorers

who know the “inside secrets” of making the Big Dog

so much fun for kids!

McGruff the Crime Dog was busy with the Explorers this past month, appearing at the LIUNA Local 777 Picnic and Child

Fingerprinting Detail at Encanto Park. Threatening weather or warm temperatures don’t faze the Big Dog’s handlers, as he appeared again (with 5 Explorers who know the ‘inside’ story) at the 40th Annual St Luke’s Egg Hunt.

Half the Post was in attendance, starting at 6am to set up tables, hide eggs, supervise traffic and then supervise little kids as they searched for the elusive “golden eggs”! Two days of assistance at the Diabetes Assn Tour de Cure kept the other half of the Post busy on the same weekend. The community service calendar continues busy for the rest of our academic year.

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Mesa Teambuilding Chal lenge: Leadership Grows

With intensive training taking place in the Fall, late Winter is the time it is put into practice. The February 16 Teambuilding Challenge sponsored by the Mesa Police Department provided a day of intense realistic scenarios for 25 of our Post Explorers and Recruits. With 21 Law Enforcement Posts in attendance from all over the state, our students teamed up with other Explorers, giving them the opportunity to meet colleagues and share training tips and build leadership skills as they completed in 10 realistic scenarios. From problem solving in “Toxic Sludge” (‘toxic’ material must be moved from one bucket to another without touching them, using only short ropes provided) to the “Tower of Skill & Knowledge” (a timed test combining law enforcement knowledge with physical strength), 24 teams competed in an attempt to garner awards. Most popular was “Night Vision”, where night vision goggles were used to survey a crime scene in a pitch black auditorium. Each team was named for and dedicated to the memory of a fallen AZ officer, and teams carried a flag throughout the day designed in that officer’s honor. At the awards ceremony (and the end of a 14 hour day), Post 2906 placed in nine out of the ten events! Next year we hope to take an even larger crew to sharpen skills and build new friendships.

SGT J.Burch heads the winning tug of war team; SGT J Davis toughs it out at the Tower of Knowledge & Strength!

Assistant CMDR to Municipal Guard: Rosa Pinales

Congratulations to 4 year Explorer Rosa Pinales as she begins her employment as a City of Phoenix Municipal Guard at City Hall! Rosa began with our Post in 2008, promoting to the rank of Assistant Commander and received Top Achiever Awards and Community Service Awards throughout her time with us. Her assistance with administrative duties and her willing and cooperative leadership will be missed. Pinales has been attending college, and her goal is to become a sworn Officer with the Department.

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Scottsdale: The final competition of the academic year!

Congratulations to the entire team! Kudos to the High Risk Stop winners and our women who swept PC!

The 2013 training competitions wrapped up as Scottsdale’s Police Department sponsored their annual Police Explorer Competition March 16. With 8 Departments participating in 6 “Policing 101” type events, our team of Zoe Anaya, Acacia Anaya, CJ Carpenter, Joshua Davis, Orlando Gonzalez, Kevin

Jones, Nick Marek, Velia Rincon, Marley Vore, Joshua Burch, Cooper Smith, Sarahy Garcia and Alex Guererro worked together and solo to gain total points and event awards. Placing 2nd in High Risk

Stops, K. Jones, V. Rincon and M.

Vore took home medals. Phoenix garnered a large trophy by placing as 3

rd Best Team Overall. An event

“sweep” took place in the competition Obstacle Course: Female Physical Conditioning; with a 1

st to

M. Vore, 2nd

to A. Anaya and 3rd

to V. Rincon, as the women of Post 2906 worked tirelessly through the unseasonably hot day to win it all! Seven Post Explorers and Recruits volunteered as “actors” at the event, lending realism to DV scenarios and traffic stops, and being put in the role of “bad guy” for a change. Thanks to SGT J. Benza for his support by attending and seeing the Post in action!

Velia Rincon, Acacia Anaya and Marley Vore made the Post Proud!

Remember . . . Diamondback vs. Phillies on May 9th

! Get your tickets now !

Phoenix Explorer Post 2906 Spring 2013 7

These are the faces of the future of Law Enforcement: Explorer Post 2906

CAPT Alex Guerrero on a DUI stop at the Scottsdale Competition

Welcome New Recruits!

In January we welcomed 8 new Recruits: Enrique Arambul, Amethyst Dennison, Tyler Hanni, Maxwell McNulty, Anais Chavez-Sanchez, Carsen Vaughn, Rebekah Torres and Mersadez DeAnda-Sanchez. Recruit Marissa Dowhan joined us from the Goodyear Post. The Recruits are busy training and vying to earn the opportunity to attend the Explorer Academy in June. Finish the year strong, everyone!

FUNDING FOR OUR POST:

Phoenix Police Explorer Post 2906 relies strictly on fundraisers and donations. Your support keeps us active in growing the law enforcement teams of tomorrow!

If you are a CITY EMPLOYEE you can provide a $2 per month payroll deduction and support us all year long! For information or a payroll form, please contact Advisor Doug Burrow.

620 West Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: 602-534-6334 FAX: 602-534-2346 Doug.burrow@phoenix.gov Phoenix.gov/police/explor1.html

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Coming in the September 2013 issue: Explorer Academy Class 13-20; Colorado Teambuilding Leadership Conference; announcing our new Explorer Recruits!

Community Service throughout the Precincts! With Explorers serving all over the valley these last months, there were a lot of great photos of Community Service at various details.

Scout-o-rama: Cubs with Commander Zoe Anaya. UPEM Parade with Chief Garcia

Explorer Eric Gonzales applies a VIN stencil.

Dozens of cars were secured at this recent detail.