Stephen R. Covey the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People suggests, “to begin every process with an end in mind.” That is how Sheriff Gene Kelly, opened with the evening of September 27, 2016 in the Raynor Room of the Clark County Sheriff Office, during the introduction of the graduation of the first class of Explorer Officers thirty years ago when Sheriff Kelly (also a former Explorer Officer of Post #312) was a young Sheriff himself.
Over sixty community and family members gathered in support of the thirteen graduates with the youngest at thirteen years of age and the oldest at twenty who come from the surrounding areas of Clark, Champaign and Greene counties. The Explorer Officer program, sponsored by local organizations and Learning for Life (LFL), a non-scouting subsidiary of Boy Scouts of America (BSA) supports the enrollment of young individuals who possess an interest in law enforcement. The students must meet certain requirements, including completing the eighth grade and having an interest in law enforcement. In 2011, twenty-five Deputies retired due to pension programs and with the negative media coverage and typecast, that law all enforcement face daily, an increase in security for the community made top precedence. “This marks the only other time that I have sworn in this many officers since then,” recollected Sheriff Kelly.
Explorer Officer Emily Adkins, a Greenon graduate and Clark State student, during a heartfelt speech of not only her experience but her fellow cadets’ experience said that, “not only did we gain the experience we also gained a great sense of friendship,” as these are the fellow officers that will be together through all of their training and early law enforcement experiences.
The students went through the essentials of law enforcement training, including the history of law enforcement, un-armed self-defense, traffic enforcement, crime and criminal investigation, courtroom testimony and active shooter situation training. Sergeant Chad Brown, a twenty-three-year active officer with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, former New Carlisle Deputy, and instructor of the Explorer Officers stated that, “This was no walk in the park, these students, they experienced what real training is like.” This included using air soft rifles to simulate a real situation, ensuring security at local events and festivals, and even taking part in a mock crime scene investigation from fingerprints, entering information into the database as well as a mock trial, where Prosecutor Andy Wilson and associates volunteered their time to make certain the reality of the situation. Officers in training also were able to perform task using the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) programs. “We actually arranged the process with BCI, and they allowed the students to enter data from their mock crime scene (which included constructed DNA and collection) as if it were a real case,” explained Sergeant Chad Brown. The overall commitment that went into the Clark County Explorer Officer Program, goes beyond what the Clark County Deputies job description details.
Sheriff Kelly took the floor with a Prayer from the Policeman’s Bible before swearing in the 2016 Explorer Officer graduates as official members of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. The graduates, each individually nervously stood as they were pinned by a special family member, with their official Clark County Deputy badge, purchased and provided by the Springfield Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.), and, just as any good Officer, their official Deputy notebook. The Explorer Officers, upon graduation, required wearing an official Deputy Uniform, including belt and hat, funds contributed by Sheriff Kelly’s office, making the graduates out of pocket cost a minimum.
Under the dedicated instruction of Sergeant Brown, and with the support of Chief Deputy Doyle Wright along with supporting Deputies who devoted their time in the education of the students, the Clark County Explorer Officers made the step to becoming those who pledge to serve and protect our community.
“What a great group of young people in law enforcement, our next generation of Clark County Deputies,” Sheriff Kelly proudly acknowledged the 2016 graduating class of the Clark County Explorer Officer program. Clark County Post #312 Officers are: Explorer Emily Adkins (Clark State), Explorer, Explorer Ryan Bennet (Greenon), Explorer Dylan Elliott (Kenton Ridge), Explorer Kendra Gochenouer (Greenon), Explorer Josh Schlabach (Greenon), Explorer Taylor Selvege (Northeastern), Explorer Zara Wright (Greenon) , Explorer Joseph Kelly ( CTC), Explorer Logan Leman (Tecumseh), Explorer Johnathon Martin (Graham), Explorer Colby McHenery (Kenton Ridge),Explorer Desarae Scott (Graduate of Shawnee), Explorer Evan Wright (Greenon). Looking to expand his future options, Greenon student Josh Schlabach completed basic training this summer as well as the Explorer Officer Program. Many of the Explorer Officers also have friends and family in the law enforcement field, seeing the positive effect that their loved ones have on the community, just as Sheriff Kelly created the close family unit of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, commenting that he remembers many of his deputies when they were small children and their friends and family members were deputies.
Of course, with all of the Explorer Officers looking forward to the ride along shifts with the senior deputies, Explorer Officer Emily Adkins joins her colleague officers in saying, “making a positive difference in the community is what we most look forward to, it is why we choose to be Explorer Officers.” The 2016 graduating Explorer Officers still have extensive training to complete that requires more in depth community interaction as well as working in the Clark County jail as well as continue learning the important paperwork process. This year the Explorer Deputies ensured the safety and security of Springfield community while patrolling at various events, including downtown at Culture Fest. “The fact that police officers face so much negative feedback and media in the world and these students still want to become a law enforcement officer, is proof of the dedication of these graduating Deputies,” stated Sheriff Kelly.
Sergeant Brown, who dedicated his off duty time to advise, educate and train the graduates in the various situations, states, “Although the action training was fun, the students really grasp the history and meaning of law enforcement, this was truly a wonderful experience for me as well.” That evening, Sergeant Brown, also honored by Sheriff Gene Kelly, Chief Deputy Wright and his fellow officers and graduates for “Creating such a wonderful and challenging program of great kids and great cops” as the 2016 Explorer Officers are the mentors for the upcoming new class of Clark County Explorer Officer Program. The 2016 class began training in January, marking eight months of training and they still have much more to learn and experience before the next generation of Explorer Officers begin.
