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Police Explorers bring home state title: Win is the post's fourth in five years
Photo courtesy of Plano PD: Plano Police Explorer Post 911 recently won its fourth state title in the past five years.
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
The latest state championship won by a team from Plano didn't involve penalty kicks or three pointers, but rather preventing robberies and conducting felony traffic stops.
Police Explorer Post 911, which is sponsored by the Plano Police Department, traveled to Waxahachie High School on April 28 and beat out 128 teams to win its fourth state title in the past five years. The 15-member post is made up of members between the ages of 14-20, many of whom say they wish to pursue a career in law enforcement after college.
"It is an amazing feeling," said Sam Reta, a 20-year-old sergeant with the post. "To us, it is like winning the Super Bowl."
The events are modeled after situations faced by actual law enforcement officers and are made to be as realistic as possible. Plano teams won first place in Domestic Disturbance, Unknown Call and Active Shooter, an event that Meta said is one of the post's favorites. In that event, explorers use mock handguns to engage an armed suspect.
Post Capt. Ricky Fitzsimmons, a four-year member of the team and a freshman at Collin College, said the win was the result of hard work and many of hours of training. He said during the summer and fall explorers meet one day a week, with that amount doubling in the spring prior to the state competition.
"You get officers who are experienced and they bring their knowledge and pass it down to us," he said. "They teach us how to handle any situations we might face.
At an awards banquet for the team on Monday night, Plano Police Chief Gregory Rushin congratulated the explorers and encouraged them to go to college and apply to work at Plano PD after graduating.
"It seems like our explorers prove time and time again just how great they are," Rushin said. "It is not only a reflection of them, but of the advisers and the good training they get. Many, many years ago I started out as an explorer in the Peoria, Ill. police department. I was there for just a short time, but I got a lot of in site into law enforcement which spurred my interest and helped me accomplish what I have to this day."
Lindy Privett, the Plano PD sergeant who supervises the post, said explorers are not only for students who want to become police officers. He said those who wish to pursue a career as forensics investigators, attorneys or judges can also greatly benefit from the program.
At the banquet, the post also gave out its yearly awards. Officer Richard Glenn, who has served as a post adviser for the past 13 years, was given the Adviser of the Year Award. The Rookie of the Year Award was given to Drew Rothenberger, a 20-year-old Collin College student from Wylie, while the Explorer of the Year Award was given to 17-year-old Plano West senior Michael Montenegro, who serves as the post's lieutenant.
For information on the Plano PD Explorers, visit www.planoexplorers.com.
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