Fair Lawn Law Enforcement

Explorer Post # 902

Fair Lawn Law Enforcement Explorer Post # 902 was formed in November 2004. It is a cooperative venture between the Boy Scouts of America, Learning for Life Inc., and the Fair Lawn Police Department. It is designed to give young men and women between the ages of 14 and 21 a chance to find out more about a career in law enforcement. Many former law enforcement officers on the federal, state, county and local levels got their start in other established law enforcement posts and we hope to do the same for our Explorers. 

Members are referred to as "Explorer" and, while the program is part of the BSA, the Explorer program is distinctively different from scouting.  

Explorer Post 902 is sponsored by the Fair Lawn Police Department as a community-based policing program. This successful program is designed to educate and involve young men and women in police operations and to interest them in law enforcement functions whether they enter the law enforcement field or not.

As an Explorer, young adults have the opportunity to assist the Fair Lawn Police Department. Explorers can broaden their understanding and firsthand knowledge of the challenges and job skills that make up their community's police service. In addition to gaining a working knowledge of police work, the participants have the opportunity to give of themselves to their community. Although Post 902 is law enforcement oriented, Explorers are volunteers and do not serve as police employees, sworn or civilian.

We chose the post number 902 as a tribute to our fallen colleague, P.O. Mary Ann Collura who was killed in the line of duty by a drug dealer when coming to the assistance of another police officer. 902 was the number of her assigned vehicle that she was operating on the night she was killed. After forensic experts processed the vehicle, it was crushed and the car number 902 was forever retired in her memory. By choosing the number 902, it is our hope that her spirit of community service, compassion, courage and commitment to duty will live on through the explorers, the law enforcement officers of the future. 

Currently we have 20 explorers who have received training in communications, fingerprinting, traffic accident investigation, forensic science, the criminal justice system and the operation of the municipal court. In the near future, Explorers will receive training in CPR, traffic control and motor vehicle as well as various other law enforcement oriented subjects. Explorers are eligible to attend the State Explorer Academy in July. 

Among the activities that Explorers will be participating in soon are the Fair Lawn Police Bicycle Rodeo which is designed to teach younger children the basics of bicycle safety, the Memorial Day Parade, fingerprinting children at the Radburn Street Fair and helping at the Junior Citizen Police Academy, a summer program designed for middle school aged children.

Requirements to join:  

ü      Be between the ages of 14-21 years (14 years old is acceptable only if you have graduated from eighth grade)

ü      Have a good moral character

ü      Remain in school while in the program or until graduation.

ü      Maintain a C average (2.0 GPA) or higher

ü      Not have a serious police record

ü      Be able to attend Explorer meetings

ü      Be willing to volunteer your time to attend Explorer functions

ü      Be willing to commit to the Explorer Code and exemplify the professional image of the Fair Lawn Police Department

If you meet the qualification for an Explorer, you will receive an application form. After the successful completion of the background process, you will become an Explorer Recruit. The Recruit will be placed on probation for three months.  

Uniforms and academy tuition fees are the financial responsibility of the Explorer. If funds are available from donations or from fundraising activities we hold, these funds will be used to help off set the financial expenses of the Explorer. 

Citizens Police Academy

School Zone Violations