Rachel de Leon, CSUN Journalism Student

On the day before her 18th birthday, specks of white and beige paint dappled Marylou Morales’ face and clothing early Saturday morning after she helped clean up graffiti in Chatsworth.

She was still smiling.


LAPD Devonshire Captain Sean Kane (on the right) Addresses Explorers, Students and Volunteers explaining that graffiti vandalism is a crime.

Morales joined the Devonshire division of the LAPD Explorers in 2007 after hearing about the program from her mom’s friend. She joined for fun and for the experience, she said.

“I would just be at home doing nothing, so why not help out in other ways?” Morales asked.

The Los Angeles Police Explorer program was established in 1962 because of Chief William Parker’s decision to get the youth involved in the police department, according to Explorer Deshawn Green from the 77th division.

At the time, the program’s goal was to recruit kids and push them toward a career in law enforcement, Green said.

“Now, we take kids who are interested in discipline,” Green said.

“[The Explorers] helps in all careers,” said Kellie Cueto, service officer for the Devonshire Explorers. “It isn’t just geared toward law enforcement.”

The program seeks to teach children discipline and life skills by allowing them to greet and host events within the community, according to Cueto.

Devonshire’s Explorer division is one out of the 21 divisions in the LAPD and accounts for 24 out of the 1,100 Explorers in the program.

The Devonshire division is ranked first in the West Coast for physical fitness and active shooter, which is a type of shooting comparable to a high school shooting, said Natasha Ikejiri, captain of the Devonshire Explorers.

The Explorer program requires their members to be between the ages of 14-20 and must maintain a GPA of 1.5 or above.

On top of keeping up with their schoolwork, applicants must also pass a rigorous 12-week Explorer Academy to join the program, which tests their physical aptitude and knowledge about the history of the program, Ikejiri said.

“You have to be a certain type of personality [to join the Explorers],” Cueto said.

Explorer Steven Estrada joined the program without knowing anyone in it before hand, Estrada said.

Estrada said he wanted to join the police academy ever since he was little and found out about the Explorers by searching for the program online.

“This was all on my own,” Estrada said.

Cueto said that she loves to be able to watch the kids succeed when they’ve been training for so long, but said that the hardest part about her job is watching the kids face tough circumstances.

“We can help them as far as talk, but they have to make the decisions,” Cueto said. “We can’t give advice on family.”

Even though Morales’ friends think being in the Explorers is a waste of time, she said that she’s had a wonderful experience through the program.

“We all get along really great,” Morales said. “We have the same interests.”

Ikejiri said that the program only takes the cream of the crop, but it still transforms kids into better citizens.

“Many even leave the gang life and completely turn their lives around,” Ikejiri said.

Ikejiri has been in the Explorers for three years and said that, like other Explorers who have learned discipline through the program, she has changed for the better.

“This program has definitely shaped my life and, in a way, helped make me who I am today,” Ikejiri said.

Sgt. Jose Torres of the LAPD said that it’s almost a proven fact that the GPA of members of the Explorers raises a full grade level or two after joining.

“If we can bring these kids in a positive environment, there’s a good chance that they’ll step up and meet the other kids who are already in the program,” Torres said.

Ikejiri said that parent involvement is instrumental at the Devonshire division and that she hasn’t heard any complaints from the parents about the program.

“Mostly, this becomes a tool for parents,” Ikejiri said. “Not only do they get to be a part of their child’s path to success, but they get to see how their teen evolves from a child to a young adult.”

According to Torres, the Explorers never ask for money after hosting or monitoring events. He said that they are simply returning a favor to the community.

Volunteer Coordinator Sophie Barcey said that events involving the Explorers expose the community to kids and puts them at ease.

“[The Explorers] are super friendly and very helpful and respectful,” Barcey said. “They take their work seriously and are very regimented.”

Treasurer for the PALS Board, Max Haghighi, said the Explorers helps to familiarize kids with police officers.

“It gives them an idea of who police officers are,” Haghighi said. “They’re here to help . . . they’re not the enemy.”

Volunteer Sylvia Hagge said that she didn’t know about the Explorers until she volunteered with them for a graffiti clean-up.

“I think [the Explorers] is great,” Hagge said. “They need to respond to their community and environment.”

Morales said that she’s changed since she joined the Explorers.

“I used to be quiet,” Morales said. “I learned communication skills . . . It opened up my eyes to a whole new world.”