What:
Second Annual LAPD Explorer Tactical Challenge

When:
Saturday, March 31, 2001
7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where:
Los Angeles Police Academy, 1880 N. Academy Dr.

Who:
Los Angeles Police Chief, Bernard C. Parks and Deputy Chief Margaret York

On Saturday, March 31, 2001, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Explorer post will host the Second Annual LAPD Explorer Tactical Challenge. This event will take place at the Los Angeles Police Academy, 1880 North Academy Drive, Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks will conduct the opening ceremonies. Deputy Chief Margaret York, Commanding Officer, Operations Central Bureau, will present trophies to the first, second, and third place posts at the conclusion of the day.

Explorers are young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20 years of age who are interested in pursuing a career in Law Enforcement. Explorers are taught Law Enforcement skills and fundamentals such as discipline, teamwork, dedication, and honesty by sworn police officers. The Explorers provide service to their communities by assisting the police with administrative duties, direct traffic at major police events and crowd control at community events.

The Tactical Challenge is a competition between teams from various Explorer Posts throughout Southern California. The competition is designed to test, challenge, and develop the Explorers' skill in handling critical police situations. Each Explorer team works together to devise and implement a plan in five complex scenarios that will require them to make quick decisions, communicate effectively, and in some scenarios survive a life threatening attack. The five scenarios are as follows:

1. A suicidal person.
2. A felony traffic stop/foot pursuit
3. Fire Arms Training Simulator (tests participants knowledge in shoot/Don't shoot situation.);
4. A domestic violence situation
5. A building search.

The 2001 Explorer challenge is "In Pursuit of Excellence" Explorer teams from the following agencies throughout Southern California will be competing:

• LAPD Foothill Area Santa Barbara Police Department
• Montebello Police Department LAPD Van Nuys Area
• LAPD Devonshire Area LASD Lancaster Station
• Whittier Police Department LAPD Rampart Area
• LAPD Central Area LASD Altadena Station
• Altadena CHP Station LAPD Hollenbeck Area
• San Bernardino Police Department Irvine Police Department
• Simi Valley Police Department Monterey Park Police Department
• LAPD Hollywood Area Gardena Police Department
• Pasadena City College Police Cadets LASD Norwalk Station
• LASD Palmdale Station Orange Police Department
• LASD City of Industry Station LAPD Southeast Area
• LAPD Southwest Area LAPD West Valley Area
• LAPD Wilshire Area LAPD 77th Area
• LAPD West Los Angeles Area LAPD Northeast Area
• Monrovia Police Dept LAPD Pacific Area

Representatives of the News Media are invited to cover this event. For further information, please contact Officer Marjan Mobasser or Officer Mark Caraveo, Northeast Area Community Relations Office, at 213-485-2548.

This Press Release was prepared by Officer Eduardo Funes, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.