Explorers teach youth basics of police work BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer In just a month, the Edison Police Explorers Post No. 215 will begin its 25th year teaching young people about what police work is all about. "I love doing the program," said resident Brianne Harrison, 15, who has been involved with the group for a year now. "I think it is amazing because it keeps young people out of trouble," she said. "We do a lot of community service, and that's what I love about the program, that we are able to help other people." The Explorers meet every Tuesday night at the Stelton Community Center, where they learn about the various aspects of police work, said Detective Michael Loreti, who is a senior adviser to the program. "At our meetings, we will practice events for competition, such as motor vehicle stops and handcuffing skills, and listen to guest speakers," Harrison said. The organization is open to boys and girls ages 14 to 21 years old. Recently, Brianne and five other members of the post, split up into two teams and attended the 2006 Southern New Jersey Law Enforcement Explorer Conference held in Vineland. Competing against 28 other teams from New Jersey and neighboring areas, they placed in three of the five competitions they participated in. They placed first in the paint ball stress course, second in crime scene investigation, and third in the boys' individual physical fitness competition, awarded to explorer Christopher Gadomski. The other four explorers were Mark Walsh, Brian Lee, John Lugones and Ryan Jenney. The competition events resemble activities police officers might do in the course of their jobs. "For example, the crime scene investigation is comprised of a pretend scenario where a victim was found murdered, and the explorers were required to locate evidence," Loreti said. "They had to draw a sketch of the scene, gather evidence in the correct manner, and even lift fingerprints from a glass object." Police administrative aide Thomas Fairbanks, who has volunteered much of his time over the last two years on behalf of the organization, says that the group is a good way to "pick up the basics" of police work. "Your child could be into skateboarding, Pop Warner things, or an instrument and so this is something a youngster who seems to be pro-law enforcement can get into to learn more about it," Fairbanks said. He said they also tell their group members not to succumb to peer pressure or other such influences. "Mike and I both grew up in Edison, and we both went through the school system just like the members of our troop," Fairbanks said. "If members ever have a problem in school or anything else, we tell them not to hesitate to call us or the other advisers, as there's always someone to turn to." Fifteen-year-old Brianne Harrison said her experience with the junior police academy and the explorers has encouraged her to consider becoming a police officer herself when she becomes older. "The one thing I really love about it is that all the people I have met there are really nice, and you make a really good group of friends," she said. "Plus the advisers are all really cool, and that helps." Brianne said she would "definitely" recommend the program to other young people. "It is an amazing program," she said. For more information about the Edison Police Explorer Post No. 215, please call Detective Michael Loreti at (732) 248-7431.