Finding local candidates for law enforcement jobs is often a difficult task, and a program that could come to Columbia might help teens see if it’s a career for them.
Zach Ross from the Boy Scouts of America spoke last week with the Board of Aldermen about the Explorer program, which would be implemented in partnership with the Police Department.
Though the board tabled approving the partnership until its Dec. 4 meeting to discuss success rates and other items with Police Chief Michael Kelly, board members expressed interest.
“We had reached out to the police chief and some other officers in the department about the potential of the Explorer program,” Ross said. “It’s for youth ages 14-20. We’ve already done a survey at Columbia High School, and we had 62 youth at Columbia High School that said they are interested in a potential career in law enforcement.”
Ross said the program has three main purposes; providing youth mentorship, giving them an idea as to whether they want a career in law enforcement and to provide a training ground for students who may be interested in attending a law enforcement academy when they turn 21.
“Most of the programs we have now are on the Coast,” Ross said. “We have one with D’Iberville Police Department, Harrison County, Biloxi, Gulfport, Ocean Springs School District and Gautier.
“They kids actually do ride alongs,” Ross said. “Boy Scouts insurance would be in place and that includes our liability policy. We help you find the kids through surveys in the schools. It’s a very fluid program. We provide some materials for a curriculum that you are welcome to use. They can attend an academy on the Coast and go to competitions regionally. For example, they could be tested in a traffic stop. They practice traffic stops before the competition and then they go and compete and they are graded on a traffic stop. They try to win medals and patches and things of that nature.”
Youth pay a fee or are awarded scholarships to participate. The CPD would pay a $40 sponsorship fee and have four officers active in the program. The total cost to the city would be $200, which includes the sponsorship fee and fees for each officer. It would certify the unit through January 2020. The board will study the memorandum of understanding and other pertinent data to determine if it has further questions.
In other police-related business, the board hired veteran McComb police officer Brian Boyd in patrol. Boyd has 10 ½ years in law enforcement and is a certified investigator. The board also voted to send officers Jerrod Newson and Ryan Williams to attend a Homeland Security field operations course in Olive Branch.
The board also approved the resignation of firefighter Scott Bennett and hiring or part-time firefighters Zach Purvis and Corey Jones.
