Longmont Police Explorers compete Tactical Explorer Competition

Front row: Rachel Manis, Katie Schultz, Brittany Ballard and Krista Miller. Back row: Anna Kerian, Jack Pease and Patrick Salazar.

Courtesy of the Longmont Police Department

The Longmont Police Explorers have just completed their trip to Chandler, Ariz., to compete in the Tactical Explorer Competition. The event took place Jan. 16 through 18. The theme this year was, "Any Mission, Any Condition."

Fifty-seven teams competed this year and it was striking to see the name of Longmont Police Department listed on the competition board alongside such heavy hitters as Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Orange County, Ventura County and Los Angeles. The average team size was 15 with some agencies having as many at 40. Our seven-person team was composed of five women and two men.

This was our team's first time ever going to the Chandler competition; which is considered one of the most challenging Explorer competitions in the nation. Advisors and evaluators were impressed by their team work, communication and refusal to quit.

Because they had never seen us before, one of the evaluators privately walked up to an adviser afterward and said, "Man where did you guys come from?" The answer of course was "Longmont, Colorado PD."

Our Explorers and Advisors have spent hundreds of hours this past year fundraising and training for this event.

Longmont Explorer Post 67 represented our police department and our community well in every event they attended.

Longmont Post 67 placed in the following events:

Third place, "10 Man Hostage Rescue"

Second place, "Decision Making/Accuracy Shoot"

Second place, "Emergency Vehicle Ops"

Second place, "5 Man Hostage Rescue"

Special mention goes to Anna Kerian for her outstanding driving and Katie Schultz and Rachel Manis for their shooting ability.