Westwood Police Explorers Post 516 is a group of young adults, ages 14-21, interested in learning about a career in a law enforcement. The Explorers are chartered by the Boy Scouts of America, however it is locally run and is coed. The post is open to residents of Westwood and on a space available basis to residents of surrounding communities.

Westwood’s Police Explorer Post is an immersive public safety experiential learning program for high school students. Its mission is to help its participants develop their voice and inherent skills to become confident and excellent in who they are while fostering a commitment to service. The Post has proudly served the Department and the Town since 1978.

Police explorers meet at the police station on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 7 to 9 pm year-round. Topics covered include constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, and hands-on, practical simulations of law enforcement calls for service, duties, tactics, and functions. 

Guest speakers and field trips come from partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies. Once trained, Explorers put their training into action and assist the Department with traffic and crowd management at public events, safety campaigns, or during emergencies such as missing person searches or shelter operations.

Explorers also have the opportunity to participate in a structured ride-along with patrol officers, detectives, the traffic unit, police prosecutor at Dedham District Court, the Fire Department, or sit inside the state-of-the-art 911 center. Explorers also compete in the annual statewide competition against other explorer posts, cadets, and high school criminal justice programs. 

Applicants must be 14 (graduated from eighth grade) to enroll. The post is open to residents of Westwood and on a space available basis to residents of surrounding communities.

To request an application, please CLICK HERE. 

For a list of frequently asked questions and answers, please CLICK HERE.

For more information contact the post advisor, Detective Lt. Aylward at 781.320.1000.