El Centro Police Department is looking for more officers to join their team
News 11's Vanessa Gongora rode along with the night shift crew to get more insight of the officer's responsibilities and how they respond to calls for service.
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) are hurting for more officers.
There are supposed to be 52 sworn members and as of right now, they are down 11 officers.
In 2018, the ECPD started an explorer program for high school students to encourage them to apply to the department when they graduate.
Sgt. Adrian Chilpa says he enjoys teaching the kids everything they need to know to get them ready for the job.
They learn various skills related to law enforcement, attend ride-alongs, learn police radio calls and are put through physical training.
"We try to get them young and try to get them early so they're home grown and they have the passion for their community here in El Centro," Sgt. Chilpa said.
The explorer program gets students prepared for what to expect in the police academy.
One explorer, Carlos Padilla, has been an explorer for four years and says hopefully in a year, he could see himself in uniform representing the El Centro Police Dept.
"It wasn't until I became an explorer with the El Centro Police Department that it really caught my attention. Once I saw what they did everyday and of course my advisors that always guided me, so I want to be like them one day," Padilla said.
Sgt. James Thompson says he takes pride in helping the city be a safer place and wants the new officers to feel the same way.
"I like working in the community I live in. I get to see the difference we make and when there's a problem, I can be a part of addressing it," Sgt. Thompson said.
The city is trying to figure out ways to make the most appealing contract as possible to attract people to apply to the El Centro Police Department.
ECPD is currently in negotiations with the city to renew their contract.
