The Dakota County Sheriff’s Department participated in the 41st Annual Minnesota Law Enforcement Explorer Association State Conference. Twenty members of the local squad were divided into six teams for the competitions in Academic, Skills Based, and Tactical categories. Men and women on the team took part in several types of testing including Bomb Teams, Burglary and Crime Scene aptitude, Traffic Crash processing, Rapid fire shooting, crime prevention and Search and Rescue exercises. Nearly 500 Explorers from all over the State were divided into teams and several first place awards were given to the Dakota County Explorers. Those competing, assisting and attending are listed below:
Individual Awards:
Nichole Gaphart- 2016 Officer Scott Patrick Memorial Scholarship
Jordan Moses- 2nd Place, Rapid Fire Shoot Competition
Harmony Zweber-Langer- 2nd Place, Job Interview (out of 86)
Harmony Zweber-Langer- 1st place, 5K (women), 5th overall
Academic Competition:
Team Event- 1st Place, Media Violence: Lessons from Littleton
Skills Based Team Events:
1st Place in Bomb (Team A), Burglary (Team A), Crime Scene (Team B), Traffic Crash (Team A)
3rd Place in Burglary (Team E), Crime Prevention (Team B), Crime Scene (Team A)
4th Place in Search & Arrest (Team C)
A Team: Gage Litzner, Jordan Moses, Lenny Gerten, Nick Cross
B Team: Kelly Huntington, Harmony Zweber-Langer, Joseph Penny, Jonah Koeppen
C Team: Erick Barrita, Dominc Scudera, Nicholas Stivers
D Team: Jarrett Ebert, Zach Knuntson, Gavin Wenzel
E Team: Mark Keeler, Elijah Long-Mcgie, James Trowbridge
F Team: Nichole Gephart, Sofia Lozada, Trinity Meyers
Advisors who teach, mentor and contribute plenty of time toward the program:
Captain Dawanna Witt, Deputies Ryan Googins, Jon Grimes, Jordan Klug and Leondo Henry and Correctional Deputies Kent Themmes and Theresa Lambert.
(Photo by Dakota County Sheriff Department)
