Elmhurst Explorers Grooms Strong Leaders, Future Police Officers

Ever noticed a group of young adults smartly dressed in uniform working with Elmhurst police at parades and other community events?

They are the Elmhurst Police Explorers.

It’s an organization for 14- to 22-year-olds who have an interest in law enforcement at a local or federal level. Explorers learn life skills like first aid, CPR, military drills and some basic police training.

And, according to post director and Elmhurst Police Field Training Officer Brett Kaczorowski, “We’re actually known in the state for having one of the best posts out there.”

Four former Elmhurst Explorers are now on the , and several other Elmhurst officers are from different Explorer groups.

Kaczorowski was hired by the police department in 2004 and took over as the program’s director in 2005.

“I just like training people, seeing the growth … giving back to the kids,” he said. 

Members can get internships, take educational trips and activities, and become mature and respectful people. 

Kaczorowski said there’s a lot of growth to see.

“There’s a big difference from the time they come around to the time they leave,” with the leadership aspect probably being the biggest area of growth, he said.

Elmhurst Patrol Officer Mike Hamblin used to be an Elmhurst Explorer under Kaczorowski.

Hamblin said he had a great experience with the Explorers program and would recommend it to anyone interested in a career in law enforcement. 

“I knew that it would be a stepping stone to my [career] goal,” he said.

He was part of the group for about three years and still helps out with the program. Having the Explorer training helped show Hamblin's potential employer that he was serious about law enforcement. 

“It was a great program to help me get to where I am now,” he said. 

Members apply for specific positions, like sergeant or lieutenant. The police officers are advisors, but the goal is to make them into responsible leaders, Kaczorowski said.

Everybody says “yes, ma’am” and “yes, sir,” and it’s more of a mentorship than a friendship, Kaczorowski said. 

“We still keep it pretty strict,” he said. 

There are weight standards, uniform standards and hair standards. Explorers perform the same physical tests that officers take. Most of them pass, he said, but for the few who don’t, it’s a good wakeup call to get in shape.

Hard Work Pays Off

At the statewide competition a few weeks ago, Elmhurst Explorers competed against 275 Explorers from all over the state in nine events and brought home eight trophies. This was the Elmhurst team's best year yet, Kaczorowski said. 

Elmhurst competitors were broken into two four-person teams. Police Explorer Eric Skwaski’s team competed in bomb response, traffic accident investigation, active shooter response and several other individual competitions.

Skwaski, an Elmhurst resident, has been part of the group for four years. He is starting his freshman year of college this fall, and he said he’s sad to be leaving the Explorers, but he will still participate at some level. 

“It’s kind of been a big part of my life for the past four years,” he said, adding that one of his favorite parts of the program was firearms training. 

The Explorers have other adventures, as well. Last year, the Elmhurst group took a trip to Washington, D.C., where they met with the Secret Service and even got a peek inside President Barack Obama’s limo.

There are 20 young adults in the Elmhurst Explorers program now, and interest has definitely increased since it started in 1982. They usually meet once a week and have various speakers, such as officials from the Chicago Secret Service, the bomb squad and the canine squad.

Explorers are loosely connected with the Boy Scouts (they’re chartered under them), but each group is left to run its post post as they see fit.

The Elmhurst Police Explorers will hold an open house for anyone interested in becoming a member at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the Elmhurst Police Station, 125 E. First St.