ECPD Explorers POST 1908 Program finds success at Southern California competition
EL CENTRO – The El Centro Police Department’s Explorers POST 1908 program brought home medals and respect with a strong showing at the 2023 Explorer Competition, hosted by the Riverside Police Department in the City of Riverside, from October 7-8.
According to a press release from the City of El Centro, the competition is the largest Explorers POST program competition in Southern California, with 31 different Explorers POST programs participating from all over the state.
At the competition, ECPD Explorer Luis Calle fared the best, winning and setting an overall record in the longest plank with 13 minutes, a competition that involved maintaining a push-style position and placing all your body weight strictly on your forearms and feet while maintaining a flat back. The ECPD Explorers POST 1908 program also finished third overall in the Team Obstacle Course and Team Tug-of-War.
The team also finished fifth in the “Unknown
Risk Traffic Stop” competition.
The Explorers POST Program is designed to provide law enforcement training and experience to youth through hands-on instruction and mentoring, the release reads.
“Our Explorers worked extremely hard and diligently to prepare themselves for this year’s event,” ECPD Sergeant and Explorers POST 1908 Program Lead Coordinator, Adrian Chilpa, said in the release. “Their displayed efforts at the competition made me extremely proud.”
“On behalf of all the staff and advisors needed to coordinate this program, we are grateful that our group of Explorers could return with awards as recognition for their dedication,” Chilpa said.
“The City of El Centro and its residents are seeing the product of a successful Explorers POST Program,” the City release reads.
“The ECPD has hired seven former Explorers, four as Police Officers, one Community Service Officer, one Parking Officer, and one Secretarial Assistant.”
“These young men and women are doing a fantastic job of representing our City and our Police Department at these tough competitions,” El Centro Mayor Martha Cardenas-Singh said. “We are so proud of their hard work and ethic.”
For more information regarding the ECPD Explorers POST 1908 Program, contact Sergeant Chilpa at (760) 335-4662.