Weekly Update: November 18 2012

Hey guys! It's been a while since our last update...today we put up a tree in downtown Placerville! Pictures included!

Weekly Update: March 18, 2012

15 Explorers completed our first Explorer Academy on March 11!  We learned the history of the California Highway Patrol, basic Vehicle Code sections, and traffic control.  We even received an overview on how Field Sobriety Tests and DUI Checkpoints operate, and how to safely complete ride-alongs with officers!

We had a taste of how a CHP Academy works, with 12 hour days of instruction and PT from drill sergeants.  We even learned how to fill out CHP paperwork…our favorite part!

This academy allowed us to earn the patches that we wear on our uniforms.  We now officially and proudly represent the California Highway Patrol as Explorers.  Photographs of this academy will be posted soon.

Some notable names: Andrew Sahagun has been named Acting Captain, Gabrielle Fluegel has been named Acting Lieutenant, and Dustin Stetina has been named Acting Sergeant of our post.
Our next meeting is to be determined. 

A list of events that we will be attending can be found here; please sign up for as many as you would like to do by contacting Officer Stark via email or telephone.

Upcoming Events

Now that the Explorer Academy has been completed, we will be participating in some upcoming events in our communities.  Explorers: Check your emails to ensure that you received the information on these events in order to participate in them and accumulate ride-along hours.

Events are tentative and may be released on this site.

Weekly Update: March 4, 2012

This weekend, March 10 and March 11, we have our first Explorer Academy.  There will be 12 hours of instruction on both days; we start at 0600 and will be finished by 1800.  Lunch will be provided.  Please be in uniform, but bring workout clothes for PT (shorts, tee shirt, shoes).  Attendance is pertinent in order to be able to work with CHP Officers on ridealongs and at DUI checkpoints.  Please see this link to read the post about the Academy for more information.

As mentioned, participants must be in uniform at the Academy.  If you are unable to acquire a uniform before the Academy, please call Officer Stark and speak with him, or email us here at chpexplorers@gmail.com.  Please see this link to read the post about the uniforms for information on where to go for the uniform and what is required in the uniform.

Regardless of whether or not you are able to acquire a uniform prior to the Academy, all Explorers must maintain the same grooming standards as CHP Officers.  Please see this link to read the post about what these standards are.

Other notes:

• Please go to the bottom of this page and vote for what you would like to learn at an upcoming Explorer Meeting!
• Spread the word of Exploring!  We can always add more members!
• Add the link to this site to your Facebook pages!  Email it to friends and family!  Get the word out!
• One thing to keep in mind until our next meeting: We need fundraising ideas.  If you have any, write them down and bring them up next time we meet!

Grooming Standards

Our grooming standards mirror the standards set forth by CHP Officers.  These requirements are outlined below for both males and females:

Males:

• Hair shall be neat and well-groomed, and can not extend below the uniform shirt collar at any time.
• Hair shall not cover the outside portion of the ear.
• Hair shall not be lower than the relaxed eyebrow of the individual, nor may it be visible on the forehead while a cap is worn.
• Neatly trimmed sideburns or mustaches are permitted.
• Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the ear.
• Mustaches shall not extend more than 1/2 of an inch beyond the corners of the mouth nor below the border of the upper lip.
• Fingernails must be clean and trimmed and nails shall not extend beyond the tips of the fingers.
• Earrings are not permitted at any time, even while not in uniform.
• Two conservative rings may be worn.
• Medical bracelets may be worn.

Females:

• Hair shall be neat and well-groomed, and shall not interfere with the wearing of the uniform cap.
• Hair shall not extend beyond the bottom of the uniform shirt collar when viewed from behind.
• Hair shall not extend below the bottom of the ear when viewed from the side.
• Hair shall not be lower than the relaxed eyebrow of the individual, nor may it be visible on the forehead while a cap is worn.
• Decorations shall not be worn in the hair.  Hair clips or ties that match the color of the hair are permitted.
• Cosmetics must be subdued and blended to match the natural skin color of the individual.
• False eyelashes may not be worn.
• Fingernails must be clean and trimmed and nails shall not extend beyond the tips of the fingers.
• Fingernail polish must be clear.
• Brassieres shall provide adequate support.
• Two conservative rings may be worn.
• Medical bracelets may be worn.
• While off duty, earrings may be worn if they conform to these requirements:
• Only two allowed, one in each earlobe.
• Pierced ear, stud type only.
• Solid color.
• No more than 4.0 mm in diameter.

Body art for both sexes:

• Nobody may display any body art, tattoos, brands, intentional scarring, mutilation, or dental ornamentation while representing the Department in any official capacity.
• Aforementioned body art must remain covered with sleeves or trousers at all times, or removed at the expense of the Explorer.

For all grooming regulations, please refer to the packets distributed at the February 28 meeting.  If you have questions, call the Placerville Office at (530) 622-1110 or email chpexplorers@gmail.com.

Uniform Requirements

Uniforms are required at the upcoming Academy and at all subsequent Explorer meetings and events. The items that Explorers are required to provide for themselves are as follows:

• Long sleeved Explorer Uniform Shirt 
• Navy blue Explorer Uniform Trousers 
• Trouser Belt 
• Black leather boots or black leather boots with nylon siding. Boots must be able to be shined. 

The post will provide caps, neckties, and required patches at a later date.

There are two uniform shops that we know carry the required items:

• Sundance Uniforms in Folsom 
• Blumenthal Uniforms in Sacramento 

Sundance Uniforms is located at 24988 Blue Ravine Rd Suite 108 Folsom, CA 95630 and can be reached at (916) 351-1023. Their website is linked here. If you Google the location, be sure to locate their Folsom location. The Folsom store sells uniforms, but their Placerville location deals with embroidery and other alteration work.  Blumenthal Uniforms is located at 3133 Arden Way Sacramento, CA 95825 and can be reached at (916) 256-3300. Their website is linked here.

The total for the uniform (not including boots) will be approximately $100 from Sundance Uniforms and approximately $120 from Blumenthal Uniforms.

It was mentioned at our last meeting that Big 5 Sporting Goods stores carry black waterproof boots that should work for your needs.

If you have any questions, simply call the Placerville Office at (530) 622-1110 or email chpexplorers@gmail.com.

Upcoming Event: Explorer Academy

On March 10 and March 11 (Saturday and Sunday) we will be having our first Explorer Training Academy.  All Explorers are to report at 0600 to the Placerville CHP office for a 12 hour day on both March 10 and March 11.

Please remember to wear your uniform!  Acting Sergeant Dustin Stetina will be at the office at 0530. Explorers- 0600 is when instruction begins.  Please aim to be there early to avoid any unforeseen problems.

There will be both classroom instruction and physical training.  Locker rooms and showers are available for use.  Be sure to bring exercise clothes.  If possible, please wear black shorts and a white shirt in an attempt to allow us all to match.

Remember: The office does not close during this Academy.  It is a weekend and business as usual for all of the officers working from this post.

Welcome to CHP Exploring!

Welcome to our site!  This page represents the California Highway Patrol's Explorer group based out of the Placerville Office.

For those of you that do not know what Explorers are, allow me to fill you in!  We are a group of young adults, aged 15-21, that assist the California Highway Patrol any way we can.  We hone our leadership abilities and build responsibility in order to aid and build our communities.  Some of us aspire for a career in Law Enforcement, but all of us desire to simply help our community in any way we can.

We volunteer our time at our Placerville Office with general clerical work, and even have opportunities to work with official CHP Vehicles.  More importantly, we volunteer to help our communities with as many events as we can.  We earn volunteer hours that we then "spend," on ridealong hours where we assist officers in the field with communications, citations, or DUI checkpoints.  Follow along to learn more about what we do!