Location: International Agri-Center, Tulare
Incident Date: 4/6/18-4/8/18
City: Tulare
Posted by: Media Relations
Explorer teams from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office placed third and fourth overall April 6-8, 2018 during the Central Valley Explorer Competition at the International Agri-Center in Tulare. Ahead of them were first place winners, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and second place winners, the Hanford Police Department.
Explorers from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office not only competed well but also helped host the event along with their dedicated advisers from each of the five substations. More than 200 Explorers attended the competition from across California and into Nevada.
Becoming a Sheriff’s Explorer is a wonderful opportunity for Tulare County youth, said organizer Sgt. Christal Derington from the Sheriff’s Pixley Substation.
Porterville Substation Explorer Cpt. Esmerald Corona agreed. She said she particularly enjoys going on ride-alongs and meeting new people, including fellow Explorers and Deputies.
From the Pixley Substation, Explorer Lt. Esteban Infante said he wants to become a Deputy and he enjoys volunteering in his hometown community of Earlimart.
“We like being Explorers because we like giving back to the community,” he said.
Also during the awards ceremony Sunday, April 8, 2018, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Explorers awarded three scholarships, valued at $1,000 each. The recipients are Gina Gonzalez, Corcoran Police; Avery Cuthbertson, Hanford Police; and Emmanuel Jimenez, Hanford Police.
The Explorer Program is administered by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office as a branch of the Boy Scouts of America. Exploring is a worksite-based program. It is part of a career education program for young men and women who are 14-20 years old. Some typical activities include uniformed patrol ride-alongs to observe officers at work, classes on law enforcement topics, and interacting with the public during street fairs, parades, or other civic events.
But at competitions, such as the Central Valley Explorer Competition, they get to test their policing skills by competing in life-like scenarios including domestic violence, DUI, and medical emergency calls as well as crisis negotiations, crime scene investigation, hazardous response and oral and written examinations.
On Saturday, they competed in bouts of physical agility such as 5- and 10-person tug of war and an obstacle course.
To become a Sheriff's Explorer, contact Sgt. Derington at (559) 782-6850.
Overall winners:
First – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Second – Hanford Police Department
Third – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Fourth – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Porterville Substation
Oral Interview:
First – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Porterville Substation
Second – Hanford Police
Third – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Fourth – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Written Exams:
First – Hanford Police
Second – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Third – Clovis Police
Fourth – Reedley Police
Hazardous Response:
First – Visalia Police
Second – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Third – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Fourth – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters
Crisis Negotiations:
First – Hanford Police
Second – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Third – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Porterville Substation
Fourth – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Medical:
First – Hanford Police
Second – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Third – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Visalia Substation
Fourth – Visalia Police
Building Search:
First – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Second – Visalia Police
Third – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Fourth – Kingsburg Police
Nighttime Suspicious Suspect:
First – Hanford Police
Second – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters
Third – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Fourth – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Domestic Violence:
First – Hanford Police
Second – Tulare Police
Third – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Visalia Substation
Fourth – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Porterville Substation
Felony Stop:
First – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Porterville Substation
Second – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Third – Hanford Police
Fourth – Visalia Police
Vehicle Search:
First – Visalia Police
Second – Hanford Police
Third – Dinuba Police
Fourth – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Visalia Substation
Shooting Skills:
First – Visalia Police
Second – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Third – Kingsburg Police
Fourth – Hanford Police
Nighttime Traffic Stop:
First – Visalia Police
Second – Clovis Police
Third – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Fourth – Hanford Police
Crime Scene Investigation:
First – Visalia Police
Second – Hanford Police
Third – Visalia CHP
Fourth – Corcoran Police
DUI:
First – Hanford Police
Second – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Third – Visalia Police
Fourth – Clovis Police
Ride Along:
First – Clovis Police
Second – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Porterville Substation
Third – Hanford Police
Fourth – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Female Obstacle Course:
First – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Porterville Substation
Second – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pixley Substation
Third – Hanford Police
Fourth – Reedley Police
Male Obstacle Course:
First – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Second – Reedley Police
Third – Lemoore Police
Fourth – Kingsburg Police
Team Obstacle:
First – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Second – Corcoran Police
Third – Lemoore Police
Fourth – Visalia CHP
5-person Tug of War:
First – Reedley Police
Second – Visalia CHP
Third – Corcoran Police
Fourth – Kingsburg Police
10-person Tug of War:
First – Hanford Police
Second – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Third – Visalia Police
Fourth – Lemoore Police
Explorer Scholarships:
Gina Gonzalez, Corcoran Police
Avery Cuthbertson, Hanford Police
Emmanuel Jimenez, Hanford Police
Runners Up for the Scholarships:
Fallon Montanuccui, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Ellyssa Varela, Clovis Police