Law Enforcement Explorer Post_Boy Scouts of AmericaMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Law Enforcement Explorer Post
DATE: April 14, 2010
Dubuque
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Chief of Police Mark Dalsing recommends City Council approval for the Dubuque Police
Department to partner with the Northeast Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) for the formation of a Law Enforcement Explorer post.
The BSA Explorer program is geared for youth between the ages of 14 and 20 years old
who are looking to learn more about specific careers and experience practical training in
the field they choose. Unlike the Boy Scouts, Explorers can be either male or female.
The BSA does an annual Student Interest Survey for the middle schools and high
schools in February of each year. Based on the most recent Interest Survey, the BSA
identified 366 local students who have showed an interest in law enforcement and
would be candidates for an Explorer program.
Cpl. Joe Messerich, a former BSA Eagle Scout, has volunteered to be the Post Advisor,
and School Resource Officers Becky Stieber and Jeremy Slight would serve as the
committee members. Chief of Police Mark Dalsing would serve as the executive officer
for the post. The training curriculum will be developed in cooperation with Lt. Neil
Weiss, the Dubuque Police Department's Training Officer, as well as the BSA.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mark M. Dalsing, Chief of Police
Michael C. Van Milligen
THE CITY OF
DUB E MEMORANDUM
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manger
FR: Mark M. DalSing)149
Chief of Police
RE: Law Enforcement Explorer Post
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
March 18, 2010
The Northeast Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) wishes to start a Law
Enforcement Explorer Post in this area with the Dubuque Police Department as its
charter organization. Preliminary meetings have been held with the BSA and we are
ready to proceed.
In October of 2009, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) contacted then Acting Chief of
Police Terry Tobin about starting a Law Enforcement Explorer Post in Dubuque. Tobin
sought a volunteer to coordinate a meeting with the BSA and I volunteered. On
December 8, 2009 I met with Colin Earl, the Exploring Executive for the Northeast Iowa
Council of the BSA, to discuss the possible formation of a Law Enforcement Explorer
Post with the Dubuque Police Department as its chartering organization.
Earl explained that the BSA Explorer program is geared for youths between the ages of
14 and 20 years old who are looking to learn more about specific careers and
experience practical training in the field they choose. Unlike the Boy Scouts, Explorers
can be either male or female. Currently the Northeast Iowa Council of BSA oversees 22
Explorer posts ranging from automotive repair to veterinary medicine and has 398
Explorers in the programs. Two of the larger area posts are an Engineering post,
partnered with John Deere and the Durrant Group, and a Military post partnered with
the Iowa National Guard.
Nationally, EMS posts (Law, Fire & EMT) have the greatest membership with Law
Enforcement making up the largest portion.
The nearest law enforcement Post is in Guttenberg, IA where they run a 12 month
program every other year. Last fall Guttenberg held an open house for prospective
members and of those that attended, six were from the Dubuque area and one was
from Manchester and they were willing to travel to Guttenberg to take part in such a
program.
The BSA does an annual Student Interest Survey for the middle schools and high
schools in February of each year. The results are then tallied over the summer months
and the results are made available to the schools and students in the fall when most
Explorer posts start. Based on the most recent Interest Survey, the BSA identified 366
local students who have showed an interest in law enforcement and would be
candidates for an Explorer program. The BSA then provides information on the posts
and helps direct youths into programs of interest.
The training /meeting schedule is based on the chartering organization's needs and
resources but can meet as often as weekly and as little as quarterly.
As far as meeting content, some Posts "recycle" their training curriculum in annual
cycles and a new group of Explorers take part each year; some recycle the training in
annual cycles and the Explorers may stay with the program and just repeat the training;
while others use a combination of repeat training with a mix of new to keep the
members engaged in the program for as long as they are a part of the post. As long as
members are within the acceptable age range, they can "graduate" at the end of a
training cycle or stay with the program for as long as they like. Again, it is up to the
chartering organization to make this decision.
The training curriculum is not guided by a manual like it is in Boy Scouts. Explorers take
part in whatever programs the chartering organization develops, and follow whatever
performance measures set up by the program. There are not merit badges, awards or
ranking, unless they are developed by the chartering organization.
Also unlike the BSA, the Explorer program does not have a uniform requirement. Some
posts do develop a requirement but often it is as simple as a t -shirt.
The minimum number of adults required to charter a post is four. This is made up of a
post advisor, two committee members and the executive officer. There is no limit to the
number of adult leaders formally a part of the post, and individual instructors do not
have to be formal adult leaders.
The BSA is responsible for the initial recruitment of the youths, making adult leadership
training available for the chartering organization, and covering the youth under the BSA
insurance.
I sought volunteers within the department and Cpl. Joe Messerich, a former BSA Eagle
Scout, has volunteered to be the Post Advisor and he has recruited School Resource
Officers Stieber and Slight to be the committee members. I would be the executive
officer for the post. The training curriculum will be developed in cooperation with Lt.
Weiss, the Dubuque Police Department's Training Officer, as well as with the BSA.
BUDGET IMPACT
As far as costs associated with chartering a post, the minimum fee is $60 for the
chartering organization, which is required on an annual basis. This is made up of $10
for each of the four required adult leaders and a $20 charter fee. This amount would
increase based on the number of adult leaders. The youths are required to pay a $15
program fee to the BSA. Some costs may develop based on the groups' activities, such
as field trips or purchasing supplies. It is up to the chartering organization how to collect
these fees. Some request reimbursement on an 'as needed" basis while other collect
regular dues.
Beyond the $60 annual fees, there may be some additional nominal fees that could be
covered out of existing budget or grant fees. I do not see any major budget impact
associated with the formation of a post.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
I believe it would be worthwhile becoming a chartering organization for an Explorer post.
BSA has always been a positive outlet of youth and the Explorer Post appears that it will
potentially fill a void for the age group we are targeting with other City and community
services. As we get further along, we will work with the Multicultural Family Center and
other City partners to identify youths who could benefit from such a program.
Additionally, I see an Explorer post as an opportunity to develop and train future officers
for the department. If we provide an interesting program for youths, perhaps we can
guide them towards a law enforcement career and help them as they progress through
college and into the testing and hiring process. If all goes well, we would look to start
the post at the beginning of the 2010 -11 school year.
ACTION REQUESTED
Approval for the Dubuque Police Department to continue in the process for partnering
with the Northeast Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for the formation of
a Law Enforcement Explorer post.