The Covington Police Explorers recently participated in a national competition designed to showcase their law enforcement skills and placed third in one category.
Held February 6 through 8 in Gatlinburg, Tenn., the Boy Scouts of America Winterfest Exploring competition drew 3,300 explorers in several disciplines from 17 states. The Covington Police Explorers placed third in the ‘Active Shooter’ challenge where Explorers demonstrated skills used when an uncontained active shooter poses a threat in a confined area like a school building.
“This competition brings out the absolute best of the best in terms of the level of competition,” said Criminal Intelligence Officer and Explorer Advisor Allan Seebaran. “I am beyond proud of this group of young men and women for their achievement.”
The group also participated in the ‘Unknown Trouble,’ ‘Warrant Service,’ and ‘Officer Survival’ challenges placing in the top 50 percent of teams competing in each challenge. The Explorers scored a sixth place finish in the ‘Officer Survival’ contest where Explorers demonstrated knowledge in weapon retention, arrest and control techniques and knowledge of Georgia’s use of force law.
Seebaran said Explorers get training in each competition by Covington police officers who have specialized training in that category.
“We had a member of our SWAT team work with our Explorers on the ‘Active Shooter’ exercise. My background lends itself to teaching the ‘Warrant Service’ challenge,” Seebaran said. “They get expert training in each discipline and obviously it has great results.”
In existence for 20 years, the Covington Police Explorer program currently has 23 Explorers, and boasts an impressive résumé of past Explorers who have graduated from the Exploring program to careers in the law enforcement industry.
“The Explorer program is about a lot of things, but we focus on life skills that will make our Explorers better people regardless of what their career path may be,” Seebaran said. “We create an environment where we can teach and practice things like teamwork, excellence, and character.”
An 11-year veteran of the Covington Police Department, Seebaran said some of the most rewarding aspects of his work include his time spent with the Explorers watching them mature.
“To hear their testimony about how this program helped keep them on a path that will in turn make them better members of our community is extremely gratifying,” Seebaran said. “This program helps keep them out of trouble, emphasizes the importance of good grades in school and gives them the tools to become role models for people of all ages.”
The Explorer program is open to students ages 14 to 20 and anyone interested in the program can call Officer Allan Seebaran at 770-385-2144.
For more information, visit cityofcovington.org.
