Explorers Program brought back to life

 

BY PRU SOWERS

KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER

 

Beonte Stemage is a fairly typical teenager, excited about graduating from Key West High School on June 6and working out the pros and cons of whether to go to Santa Fe College in Gainesville in the fall.

But the 19-year-old Conch is also very different from most of his fellow students. He’s one of only 15 young adults enrolled in the Explorers Program, a challenging after-school class that not only acts as a recruiting effort for the police department, it gives the kids life lessons that aren’t found in text books.

“My mom is a dispatcher with the [Monroe County] Sheriff’s Department. So I grew up around law enforcement,” Stemage said. “I’ve grown up here basically my whole life. I’d like to protect and serve where I’ve grown up.”

 

The program started around 1991 as part of the Key West Police Department’s outreach efforts into the local community. It helped forge bonds between police and a sometimes-wary public and also gave teenagers a chance to learn police tactics and discipline.

Despite its lofty goals, however, the Explorers Program died out in 2008, about the same time the recession hit the country hard, particularly in Key West’s two primary industries, tourism and real estate. The program stayed a memory until the beginning of this year, when Officer Deglys Chavarria, who became the high school police resource officer around the same time, brought it back to life.

“I started as an Explorer. That’s where I became interested in police work. So when the police department was discussing possible youth programs last year, I said what better program than the Explorers,” Chavarria said.

Stemage joined as soon as the revived program was opened. Some Explorers go on to the police academy and became officers themselves: About 10 percent of the current police force were Explorers. But while some go in other professional directions, they take the knowledge they gained in the program with them.

 

“Even if they don’t go into law enforcement, they’re still learning life skills like how to communicate, finances, self-image, respect for self and others. It’s all about showing them how to pick a field where they can give back to the community,” Chavarria said.

 

Since Chavarria was assigned to the high school in January, the number of Explores has grown from six to 15, including eight girls. Open to students age 14-20, each is required to put in 80 hours of study in 15 specific areas, with hands-on training and proficiency exams included. While teaching the kids how to achieve their goals is the priority, a close second is building a bond between the students, police and the community.

 

Stemage has 75 hours of accredited study. Once he hits 80 hours, he will be allowed to join police officers on ride-alongs, putting him in real-life law enforcement situations.

 

“I can’t wait for that,” he says. “Just the experience of actually being in the patrol car and being in the middle of everything, seeing it firsthand. I like helping people. Getting the bad guys off the street or helping people in desperate need. It makes me feel good.”

 

But while the excitement of law enforcement is a draw to some teenagers, there can also be a price. Stemage said he lost a few friends when he joined the Explorers.
“A lot of people don’t like cops and don’t want to be around them. But I’m fine with that. I’ve gained some [new friends], too,” he said.

 

“I tell the kids they’re going to put in a lot of work but they get a lot back. It’s such a selective few. They’re doing things the other kids don’t do,” said Chavarria. “We give them a positive direction and focus in whatever field they choose.”

 

Anyone interested in learning more about the Explorers Program can contact Officer Chavarria at [email protected].

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