Cadets learn ins, outs of police work in Sturgis Explorers Program

STURGIS — A police-training program for St. Joseph County youths has renewed after a pause due to COVID-19.

Overseen by Sturgis School Resource Officer Sam Watson, the Sturgis Explorers Program is in the midst of completing its first season since it was interrupted in 2020. Watson said the program has value, as past participants have gone on to land jobs in law enforcement.

“It’s a good pipeline for people who are serious about a career in law enforcement,” Watson said. “It’s also good for local law-enforcement agencies to get some homegrown officers or deputies into their departments.”

Participants benefit from simulated and first-hand experience. Watson said cadets often spend time on a ride-along with officers and learn from observing real-life situations.

As for hands-on training, cadets last month met at the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department for exposure to its MILO simulator. Also referred to as critical-incident training, the simulator puts users in a situation where awareness, judgment and proficiency are tested through various, on-screen scenarios. Depending on how the scenario is programmed, users have to decide whether to shoot or refrain from firing a fake handgun at a 20-foot screen.

The cadets have been trained in CPR, how to use a fire extinguisher, pat-downs, handcuffing and a recent firearms training conducted at the sheriff’s department range in Centreville.

“A few weeks ago we even staged interviews … the kids came in with actual resumes, we taught the gentlemen how to tie a tie, give a firm handshake, sit up straight, look people in the eyes during the interview process,” Watson said.

The explorers program originally started in the late 2010s as an extension from a forensic science class at Sturgis High School. The current, eight-person roster includes participants from Sturgis, neighboring school districts and even Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

He said the two-year training covers both police- and fire-related training.

“Through this program we are currently sending three kids through the fire academy, so if there’s a chance we get an on-call fireman out of this or maybe a police officer, that’s all the better,” he said. “The whole program is all about exposing these young men and ladies to what’s out there.”

The current session started in January and participants meet a few hours every other Sunday. Minimum age is 16.

Regarding the MILO training, Watson said the real-life simulation encourages cadets how to talk and how communication can help diffuse a volatile situation.

“When the sheriff’s office said we could do this, it was just an awesome opportunity for us,” he said. “During ride-alongs, they’ve seen real-life stuff but this is training that really is invaluable.”

The MILO simulations included a traffic stop, an encounter with what a knife-wielding subject outdoors in a business park setting, and a store robbery. Watson was able to change the scenario, deciding whether the bad guys will fire or not.

Cadet Angel Gomez was faced with a situation where two suspects exited from a pickup and were clearly agitated. He was in the midst of trying to calm them when a third person rose from the bed of the pickup and fired.

“Yeah, there’s some adrenaline going on,” he said. “It’s very much a life-like situation … had no idea this guy was going to pop up out of nowhere.”

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Cadets learn ins, outs of police work in Sturgis Explorers Program