A few clouds. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..
A few clouds. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: September 14, 2025 @ 5:32 pm
Members of the Killeen Police Department’s Explorers Program take a break between car washes on Sunday.
Cars on westbound Central Texas Expressway slowed down Sunday when they caught site of the police vehicle with lights flashing and the giant football on the lawn of Killeen Certified Dealership. KPD Explorers held a car wash to earn funds for important programs.
Members of the Killeen Police Department Explorer Post 277 washed cars Sunday afternoon to earn money for their program, scholarships and gear they may need for training in law enforcement skills.
Hardworking Explorers from Post 277 in Killeen use their car washing skills to earn donations to their scholarship fund.
One of the police department vans got a good car wash between customers at the fundraiser for KPD Explorers from Post 277 Sunday.
Explorers from Post 277 in Killeen spread out their towels used to wash and dry off vehicles during the car wash fundraiser Sunday.
The youth from Explorers Post 277 really used their muscle to man the car wash fundraiser on Sunday.
Reporter
Members of the Killeen Police Department’s Explorers Program take a break between car washes on Sunday.
Cars on westbound Central Texas Expressway slowed down Sunday when they caught site of the police vehicle with lights flashing and the giant football on the lawn of Killeen Certified Dealership. KPD Explorers held a car wash to earn funds for important programs.
Members of the Killeen Police Department Explorer Post 277 washed cars Sunday afternoon to earn money for their program, scholarships and gear they may need for training in law enforcement skills.
Hardworking Explorers from Post 277 in Killeen use their car washing skills to earn donations to their scholarship fund.
One of the police department vans got a good car wash between customers at the fundraiser for KPD Explorers from Post 277 Sunday.
Explorers from Post 277 in Killeen spread out their towels used to wash and dry off vehicles during the car wash fundraiser Sunday.
The youth from Explorers Post 277 really used their muscle to man the car wash fundraiser on Sunday.
A dozen youth, from the Killeen Police Department Explorer Post 277, came out to support their post by washing cars on Sunday in partnership with Killeen Certified Auto Group.
Without any recent rain, the line of cars was steady. The cost to have a vehicle washed was strictly donations only. Commander Anthony Lourance and Homicide Detective T. Kashimura were on hand to offer direction and support their project. Additional volunteers from the police department came to help where needed.
The Explorer program is designed to acquaint young people with the nature and complexity of law enforcement. It encourages them to seek careers as police officers and at the same time it affords the department an additional opportunity to evaluate each Explorer, at little expense, prior to their application for employment as a police officer.
Character building is a vital part of the program. Volunteering, social skills and community engagement are all qualities Lourance believes are important to build and to model. Those characteristics cannot be taught. But, Lourance has been able to work in some life lessons as he works with these young men and women. The Killeen Police Explorers program is open to young adults between the ages of 15 and 20.
Lourance has seen what the training and support these Explorers have had will do for them in the future.
“Some of them have used this program to learn about the job and employers have scheduled interviews due to the candidate’s participation in the Explorer program,” Lourance said.
He introduced Danya Rivera, 20, and a 2023 Ellison High School graduate. Rivera is in the last stages of her application process to become a KPD officer. While waiting to turn 21, she works in the Records Department at the police station. She said she wasn’t really interested in becoming an officer until she worked inside the station.
“I really got to see how things go,” Rivera said. “What they do for the community, the integrity of the department and the people she has met changed her mind on becoming an officer.”
Riviera has completed the application process, had an initial interview, passed physical training and academic testing. She is waiting for the results of her background check before moving on to a psychology and physical evaluation. If all goes as planned, Riviera will have her “first meeting,” as a police Cadet in January 2026. Riviera will spend a year in training before graduation. At that point, she will begin training with seasoned officers and learning what types of actual calls happen in Killeen.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Riviera said. “But, it feels like it’s gonna take a long time to get there.”
She isn’t the only one in her family to decide to serve the citizens of Killeen.
“My brother wants to be a firefighter,” Riviera said. “He’s currently enrolled in the firefighter training program at Killeen ISD, and will apply for the Fire Department after graduating.”
Another hard working Explorer is Larry Sumlin. A Shoemaker High School graduate, class of 2025, was anxious to begin working in law enforcement. He applied for a position with the KPD, as a jailer. According to Lourance, the age requirement for this position is 18, so he has been offered a spot at the Killeen Jail in south Killeen.
“I’ve been in the Explorer program for nine months,” Sumlin said. “I think that is one of the reasons I got an interview and job offer.”
Recently, Post 177 Explorers have helped with many community events. They assisted police officers at the recent Touchdown in Downtown event last weekend. They have assisted at other venues “to be another set of eyes,” Lourance said. “They cannot perform any law enforcement duties, but they see what happens and can be prepared in the future.”
Part of being an Explorer in Killeen is that Post 277 is one of the posts who compete in annual competitions with other posts, across the state.
“These kind of activities help them bond as a unit and can give a variety of experiences,” Lourance said.
The next competition is scheduled for April or May in Houston. Some of the competitions include mock calls for domestic situations, for emergency services and other situations likely to happen once they are on the force.
“The Explorers offer youth realistic experiences that focus on being in the law enforcement field,” Lourance said. “During competitions, we have Explorer groups sponsored by the U.S. Border Patrol. Interested students can apply at 18 years old. Killeen’s police department requires applicants be at least 21 to apply for patrol positions.”
To join the KPD Explorers, contact Lourance by email at alourence@killeentexas.gov. or call the business office during normal business hours at 254-501-8830.
Visit the KPD-Explorer page on the police department’s webpage for more information. https://www.killeentexas.gov/231/Police
janak@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7551
Reporter
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