La Crosse Police Explorers excel at state conference

Last weekend, members of the La Crosse Police Explorers program took what they learned in the classroom and executed it in mock drills.

It took place at the Wisconsin Police Education Advocates Association Conference in Wisconsin Dells.

Forty-three teams throughout the Midwest were involved.

A team of five went through a host of scenarios according to La Crosse Police officer and teacher Kurt Weaver.

“They have mock scenarios set up, for example, some of the ones they had were, a traffic stop, welfare check, conflict resolution,” Weaver said.

Real police officers graded the teams on how they performed the various drills.

The highest score for the La Crosse program was 96/100 in the dispatch drill.

Weaver says, as the years go on, he can see them becoming more comfortable.

“This is the strongest group we’ve ever taken, this is our fourth year in the program now,” Weaver said. “They’re getting better, they’re learning, which is good.”

The program currently has 16 students.

Weaver’s goal is to give teens a look at what a law enforcement career would entail.

“We cover different topics every class,” Weaver said. “Some kids have gone through and said I love this, I want to continue on to college, and others have said, it’s not for me.”