Thank for visiting the California Highway Patrol, Rancho Cucamonga Area’s Explorer Post 855 website. Our Explorer Post was re-established in 2015. Explorers are volunteers between the ages of 15 to 21, who have an interest in learning what a CHP officer does on a daily basis. There is no obligation to become a police officer once you decide to join our program. Explorers at our post work side by side with officers in the field during ride alongs and assist at various community related events. Our Explorers are trained to interact professionally with everyone they meet and to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the California Highway Patrol. The highlight of our program is the ability to do ride alongs. During ride alongs Explorers will respond with officers to collisions, witness arrests, assist officers with radio communication and witness how officers perform their duties at various types of calls.
Post 855 Explorers are trained in explorer safety, radio communications, CPR, first aid, report writing, law enforcement tactics, and physical training. Explorers are also engaged in fundraising as we are a non-profit organization under 501 (c)(3) regulations. Some of the CHP Officers who act as advisors at this post are former Explorers who understand what it takes to become a California Highway Patrolman. Our focus is to train our Explorers to become CHP officers. Training is conducted in a para-military fashion which resembles training conducted at the California Highway Patrol Academy.
To clarify, we are not a gladiator academy. We are looking for mature young men and women, who have good grades, and are considered model citizens. Explorers must attend meetings every Wednesday night between 7 PM and 9 PM, with the exception of holidays or excused absences such as for family related events, maintaining their grades at school, or work related issues. Applicants with 2.0 GPA’s are allowed in the program, however, they will be asked to raise their GPA’s to a 3.0, with a minimum “B” average in their English and writing courses.
To apply, applicants should call (909) 980-3994 and ask to speak with an Explorer Advisor. Applicants will then be invited to attend a meeting and will receive and application packet at the end of the meeting. Once the application is turned in, a background check will commence. Following the background check, the applicant will be interviewed and a decision will be made to accept or deny the applicant.
