JPD Explorers shine during academy

For the second successive summer, the award-winning Johnston Police Explorers Post 405 shined under Saturday’s sparkling sun that covered the Rhode Island National Guard’s Camp Varnum in Narragansett.

Eleven members of Post 405, which is sponsored by the nationally-accredited Johnston Police Department and is coordinated by Major Thomas H. Dolan, again showed the strength and savvy that continues to rank the non-profit youth group among the best Explorer units in New England.

Explorer Sgt. Aaron Blanco won the prestigious Leadership Award during Saturday’s seaside graduation ceremony for the weeklong Rhode Island Law Enforcement Explorer Academy that’s headed by Lt. Patrick McMahon of the Charlestown Police Department.

“This was the second straight year Sgt. Blanco won this highly-acclaimed honor,” Dolan said. “It’s a very important award associated with the Academy and we are all thrilled for Aaron. He certainly earned this great honor.”

Post 405’s second shining moment came after McMahon finished his opening remarks and announced that Johnston Explorer Abby-Rain Heiser would sing the National Anthem. And the thunderous sound of applause she received at the conclusion of the rendition was a well-deserved and special salute to her for yet another powerful and impressive rendition.

Dolan, who was ably assisted throughout the week by Explorer Post 405 Chief Allegra Graziano and officials from a number of police departments across the state, said, “I am very proud of all the Explorers that took time from their busy summer schedules to attend this year’s State Explorer Summer Academy.”

The 11 Post 405 Explorers, who received their Academy Graduation Certificates as well as compliments on their entire uniforms, are Blanco, Ryan Savard, Bailey Morin, Heiser, Joshua Savard, Sgt. Mason Lariviere, Capt. Katherine Rocha, Zachary Morin and Sgt. Oscar Marin.

Five Johnston Explorers – Joshua Savard, Heiser, Morin, Ryan Savard and Bailey Morin – suffered minor injuries during the week yet chose to stay the course and complete the academy.

As Dolan and McMahon will attest, “Each and every one of the 35 Explorers who graduated here today basically spent the last week of their summer vacation here.”

Perhaps McMahon, who succeeded former JPD Major Mark Boisvert – who is now a member of the RI Sherriff’s Department – as the Academy Director, said it best during his address to parents, friends and those people who attended Saturday’s graduation ceremony.

“This program runs on a 24-hour basis,” McMahon explained. “The Explorers day begins with a 5 a.m. wakeup call and their day is filled with a number of law enforcement issues until the lights go out at 9 p.m.”

McMahon also noted: “The weather was perfect all week and once again the Explorers rose to the challenge to complete a number of difficult tasks and our instructors tried to make as tough as possible.”

Dolan added, “All the Explorers completed obstacle courses, criminal law and hand-cuffing classes, building searches and specialized area such as DUI and K-9 classes and visiting the URI Crime Lab.”

The entire Explorer unit also had a rare opportunity to meet and listen to an FBI agent who has been involved in several high-level investigations leading to arrests of known terrorists. They also took in a demonstration by the RI State Police Bomb Squad that ranged from checking out the bomb robot and trying on bomb technician suits.

Although the annual Training Academy is designed to instill the values of discipline, teamwork, commitment, respect, dedication, compassion and safety, there was also time for a few hours at the beach, a con-first by the water front where the Explorers leaned how to make Banana S’mores.