Local youth sign up for Mat-Su Law Enforcement Explorers program during open house

WASILLA — Over a dozen local youth attended an open house for the newly rekindled Mat-Su Law Enforcement Explorers program at Teeland Middle School Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Palmer Police Department officer and Palmer High School school resource officer Keith Barkwood said that he was thrilled to see so much interest from the community.

"I think we got a good number to start with and we're going to grow it from here," Barkwood said.

Mat-Su Law Enforcement Explorers Post 400 offers hands-on training opportunities for local youth who are interested in pursuing law enforcement careers and gaining valuable character-building skills along the way.

Barkwood said that participants will learn everything they need about becoming a law enforcement officer and they will be fully prepared to join local reserve programs and eventually start full-time careers in the community.

"There's nothing we're not going to train you on," Barkwood said.

The age requirement for starting a law enforcement career is 21. The Explorers program is open to young men and women ages 14 to 20. The program is ongoing with no official start or end date so those that are interested in joining can sign up at any time.

The Law Enforcement Explorers program is practiced across the nation and blanked under the Boy Scouts of America Learning for Life program, according to Barkwood. The Learning for Life program is designed to teach youth valuable life skills with real-world applications.

"This is going to be awesome. We're going to change kids' lives," Barkwood said.

Over 20 law enforcement officers from the Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Police Department, and Wasilla Police Department are participating as leaders in the Post 400 Explorers program. PPD officer Ryan Ogden said that having three different agencies working together is a unique opportunity for aspiring youth interested in learning about serving their community, and he felt inspired to see various officers working together to make this program accessible for them.

"I'm really happy to be a part of it," Ogden said.

This is the first time the Valley has had an Explorers program in about a decade, according to Ogden. He said that WPD was the last agency to operate the program before it dissolved.

"There's enough of us here who wanted to bring it back because we thought it was important," Ogden said.

Ogden was an Explorer when he was a teen in Ohio. He eventually went on to serve as a police officer in Ohio and he spent time as a military police officer for the U.S. Air Force before moving to Alaska and joining PPD. He said that being an Explorer was a life-changing experience for him.

"I loved it. Obviously, it had a great impact on me because this is where I ended up," Ogden said. "I think it's amazing. I think this is a great opportunity."

18-year-old Mat-Su Central School graduate Jordan Cowsill signed up for the Explorers program Wednesday evening. He said it seems like a great way to prepare for a local law enforcement career.

I just think it's really important to the community to actually make a difference.

It's just something I believe will keep me on the straight and narrow," Cowsill said.

Cowsill said that he's lived in Wasilla since the fifth grade. He said that his ultimate goal is to start a career with WPD when he's old enough. He said that he looks forward to having the chance to help his friends and neighbors.

"That's what you do it for, the community," Cowsill said.

Barkwood is the main person spearheading the resurgence of the Explorers program. He said that he's been working to bring it back to life for a while and he feels great about seeing it finally come to fruition.

"I'm passionate about this. I put a lot of energy into getting this thing going," Barkwood said.

Looking forward, Barkwood said that he aims to continue growing the program in a number of ways. He said that he is working to apply for grants and raise donation funds to offer scholarships to applicants in need of assistance and vans to transport participants.

Barkwood was also an Explorer when he was young. He said that it gives him a great feeling of joy and fulfillment to help Valley youth have the same opportunity he had when he was growing up.

"I'm excited I can finally give that back to the community. I'm excited I can come full circle," Barkwood said.

Mat-Su Law Enforcement Explorers Post 400 meets the first and third Wednesday every month throughout the year. The first official meeting will be Oct. 18. A majority of the meetings will take place at WPD with alternating venues.

Annual membership fees cost $50. For more information, email matsu.law.enforcement.explorers@gmail.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com