Law Enforcement Students Excel in Contest

UT Dallas’ Law Enforcement Explorers returned from a successful outing last week at the National Law Enforcement Exploring Conference at Colorado State University, where they were the only team from Texas to take multiple awards. 

The post took first place with a booth/display based on their involvement in community service activities.  For that contest, they were interviewed by judges and quizzed about their outreach efforts.

The group also received a third-place nod in the Drug Enforcement Agency Arrest, Search and Seizure category.    

In individual events, sophomore criminology major Grant Mock placed third overall in the 9mm Pistol Marksmanship category.  Before the competition, Mock had fired a weapon only once, about a month before the event. 

More than 300 Explorer posts from across the country participated in the conference, which is held every two years.  Team events during the competition included arrest techniques, bomb threat response and hostage negotiation. 

According to Lt. Steve Finney, a commander in the Office of Investigative and Special Operations in the University’s Police Department, out of all the Texas posts attending, only four won awards, including the UT Dallas team.

“There were about 20 Explorer posts from around the state at nationals, and we were the only group to take more than one award, so we’re very proud of the team and their advisers.”

The Explorer program — which is endorsed by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies — offers students the opportunity to gain experience, training and preparation for careers in law enforcement.  More than 2,800 police and sheriff’s departments have organized Explorer posts.

The UT Dallas post is a co-ed student organization sponsored by the Police Department.  The team includes Mock, Kevin Grubbs, Jenny Chaddick and Robert Haynes.  Police officers Karl Zuber and Karla Routson serve as advisers to the group.