- 
      - **  Home
      - **   About Us
      - **  Publications
      - **  Archives

### Contact Us

To provide feedback on the Community Policing Dispatch, e-mail the editorial board at CPDispatch@usdoj.gov.

To obtain details on COPS Office programs, publications, and resources, contact the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770 or AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov

**U.S. Department of Justice**                    Office of Community Oriented Policing Services                    145 N Street, N.E.                     Washington, DC 20530 www.cops.usdoj.gov

            - Home
            - About Us
            - Publications
            - Archives
            - Contact Us

###  Collaboration and Mentorship: Quakertown First Responders Explorer Post #58 

 February 2017 | Volume 10 | Issue 2

Jason did something he never did before—. he climbed a 150-foot extended  ladder on a fire truck. Ashley operated a fire hose for the first time,  using.  all her might not to fall  backwards from the strong pressure. Tyler enjoyed the thrill of being carried  on an authentic stretcher used by paramedics for real patients at the hospital.  And Laura is still talking about the excitement of watching the K9 police dogs  perform a demonstration; she now dreams of becoming a police officer. 

          This is not a scene from a movie, but a typical outing of the Quakertown  (Pennsylvania) First Responders Explorer Post #58, created in 2015 in  conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America and Quakertown Community School  District. The post is mentored by the Quakertown Borough Police Department, which has teamed up with St. Luke’s Hospital and the Quakertown Fire Department provide high school students with a taste of all three emergency  disciplines during their formative years.

           The Explorer program is designed to give students hands-on training in  police and emergency response career fields. It connects students with mentors  who can help them explore career paths, provides exciting activities which  build students’ leadership skills, character development, social and  professional networking, and community service experience. 

          The idea of combining the three departments into one Explorer post was  proposed by Chief Scott McElree of the Quakertown Borough Police Department, an  advocate of community policing. “Having the opportunity to interact with  community youth through the Explorer program is an effective way to provide a  positive mentoring relationship that has a favorable impact on their future. It  is exciting and rewarding to be part of developing their character and  influencing their lives.” 

          Officer Robert Lee of the Quakertown Borough Police Department is the  advisor for the Explorer Post. Lee, currently the school resource officer at  the Quakertown  High School, has recruited students from ninth through twelfth grade to participate.  The post meets twice a month in the evenings and rotates between the Quakertown  Police Department, St. Luke’s Hospital, and the Quakertown Fire Department. The  activities have included hands-on demonstrations, guest speakers, and field  trips. For example, last year students toured the Bucks County 911  Communications Center and learned how calls were received and dispatched.  Students also toured the Forensic Crime Lab at DeSales University. 

          The Explorer students designed their own patch, which was applied to polo  shirts. The students wear these shirts as a uniform when attending events. The  costs of the uniform shirts were funded by St. Luke’s hospital. 

          Combining all three departments allows students to explore the  interdisciplinary functions of each department and how they work together on  calls—for example, at the scene of a vehicle crash, officers are working  together with emergency medical services and the fire departments. The students  are given a glimpse of actual calls responders deal with and of how quickly  decisions need to be made. It prepares students to deal with a variety of  emergencies and apply critical thinking skills to each discipline. 

          Another positive aspect of the Explorer post is [that] the students learn  to view the emergency advisors as human, everyday people. This helps dispel any  stereotypes they have learned from television or other media, and lets them  learn the difference between fact and fiction. 

          The Quakertown Community School District is a supporter and advocate for  the Explorer Post. Dr. William Harner, the superintendent of Quakertown  Community School District and a proud Eagle Scout, is a strong proponent of the  program, which dovetails with his other attempts to build positive  communication between law enforcement and the schools. “Talk about a  win-win-win-win situation. The Explorer Post benefits our students, the  district, all local first responders, and our entire community. It’s truly  awesome.” 

          This year, Explorer post recruitment has increased, with meetings  averaging about twenty-five students. Although most of these want to pursue a  law enforcement career, others have interest in medical fields, firefighting,  and the military. They are all now able to network face-to-face with emergency  responders to discuss career endeavors. One of last year’s Explorer graduates,  Darby Keller,  is now a pre-law student  in college. Keller explained that “the Explorer post opens so many doors to  different fields that you might not have thought about and gives students a  chance to make connections along the way. “          

The Quakertown First Responders Explorers Post #58 is an inventive  approach to combining all three emergency departments into one program for  students to explore. This diversity of experience allows students to become  better prepared for their future careers and educations. 

          Officer Robert Lee          Quakertown Borough Police Department
Tweet

**Subscribe to Email Updates**
To sign up for monthly updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your email address in the Subscribe box.

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

**Explore**
            - Home
            - About Us
            - Archives
            - Publications
            - Contact Us

**
Connect With Us 
**
Want to stay connected with the COPS office? Follow us on social media!
            - 
            - 
            - 
- 
- 
- 

             FOIA 

             No FEAR Act 

             Open Government 

             Plain Writing 

             USA.gov 

             Legal Policies and Disclaimers 

             Language Access Plan 

             DOJ Privacy Policy