The Watsonville Police Cadet Program, Explorers Post 501, operates under the sponsorship of the Chief of Police and the Watsonville Police Department, in cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America. Participants are between fourteen and twenty years old. Two full-time Watsonville police officers volunteer their services as advisers whose role is to mentor the cadets.
The program provides young people with the opportunity to explore the law enforcement field as a possible career choice. Cadets are rotated through a variety of divisions to experience the many aspects of law enforcement. They also take on several different roles during community events and serve as a liaison between the police department and youth in the community.
For more information, please contact Patricia Mata at patricia.mata@cityofwatsonville.org. Program advisors can be reached by phone.
Ofc. Collin Travers: 831-889-8439
Ofc. Robert Strong: 831-889-8445