July 15, 2005

Explorer Scouts Honored for Helping the
Nassau County Homeless Task Force

County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and Legislator David Dennenberg recently honored 16 Explorer Scouts for assisting the Nassau County Police and the Nassau County Homeless Task Force.  The Police Explorers helped obtain supplies for the Nassau County Homeless Taskforce.  Donations included diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, children’s clothes, blankets, jackets, soap, toothbrushes, towels, tissues, toilet paper, and fast food gift certificates.  The Explorer Scouts picked up items from the following drop-off locations: Waldbaums, Walmart, Super Stop and Shop, Pathmark, Waldbaums, Stop and Shop, and local high schools: Baldwin, Uniondale, Merrick, and Bellmore.

Police Explorers that helped collect supplies for the Nassau County Homeless Taskforce included Alyssa Clifton, Timmy Macri, and Nicole Morales from Mepham High School; Chris Gleason from Calhoun High School; Gabrielle Baptiste, Ielisa Maddison, Jamall Roche, Kenny Byrnes, and Tiffany Macri from Baldwin High School; Ian Roth from Kennedy High School; Natasha Younge from Uniondale High School; Jason Williams from Freeport High School; Earle Williams, Jessica Richards, and Rocco Gassparre from Nassau Community College; and Shanikqua Martin from St. John’s College.

The Nassau County Police Department invites students from local schools between the ages of 14 and 20 to participate in Police Explorers.  Under the supervision of their Police Officer Advisors, Explorers assist the police department at special events such as parades, walk-a-thons, and public gatherings.  Some Explorers are invited to participate in the Ride-A-Long Program, in which they can experience the normal routines of community policing.  Activities include responding to calls for service, exposure to radio operating procedures, paperwork, and report writing.  The Explorers also go on field trips to visit other police agencies as well as various specialized units with in the Nassau County Police Department.  They undergo training such as traffic stops, handcuffing techniques, and crime scene investigations.