Junior class president Winston Garza participates in a police explorer program with the La Joya ISD police department. The program is offered to students between the ages of 14 to 21, and it teaches them basic information about the law and law enforcement.
“I want to be in law enforcement after high school and college,” Garza said, “so what better way than experience what law enforcement officers do daily right there with them?”
The program does fit in with Garza’s school and work schedule. Although one of the cons that come with it is still how long some of the meetings could take. Which still “isn’t that much [time].”
“I think it very much will be valuable in the future. Say I apply for a job at a local agency; I’ll have some knowledge other cadets might not have. It helps, and it’s also shown me there’s time for fun and time for work.”
With a month-long summer academy, participants receive training in traffic stops, felony traffic stops, writing citations, etc.
Last November and December, the police department worked on both a Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas drive.
“I would say the best thing were the ride alongs. I would say, however, 2nd place would be the events with the community, seeing the smiles on kids and families [faces]”, Garza continued,
The Police Explorer Program is a part of Learning for Life, a subsidiary of the Boys Scouts of America. To qualify, applicants must have graduated from 8th grade and must be between 14 and 21.
“If the field of law enforcement is something you want to do in the future, I encourage it. And, I hope you find as much joy, entertainment, privilege, knowledge, and honor in it as I do.”