HomeMy WebLinkAboutExplorer AwardsContact: Kate Heimel, Communications Intern
Phone 952-826-0304 • commintern2@EdinaMN.gov • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Explorers Take Home 10 Awards at Annual Conference
Edina, Minn., May 5, 2025 – Edina/Eden Prairie Police Explorers Post 925 recently competed against 43 Explorer posts from three states in the 50th-annual Explorer Conference in Rochester,
Minnesota, bringing home 10 awards.
The Explorers team includes Aaron Sanchez, Andrew Heeren, Andrew Marks, Anna Bowman, Evelyn Hernandez Aguilar, Gavin Riedemann, Gavin Motzko, George Rerat, Henry Jonson, Lauren Mertz,
Leopold Maas, Madison Bliss, Oscar Mar and Sarah Olajos.
At the April 24-27 conference, they took home six team awards:
1st place for Burglary Response
2nd place for Crime Scene Search
2nd place for Street Decisions
2nd place for Traffic Crash Investigation
3rd place for Arrest and Search
4th place for Vehicle Crimes Investigation
A handful of Explorers earned individual awards. Rerat placed first in DWI investigation, Mertz placed first in Interview and Johnson placed second in Rapid Fire Shoot.
Additionally, Officer Bennet Breyer won the Explorer Advisor pistol shooting competition.
“The Explorer program continues to be a great example of mentorship and community outreach for the Police Department. Through the Explorers’ dedication, volunteering and training, these
young individuals are not only learning about law enforcement, but many are also inspired to pursue careers as future police officers. Several of our current officers proudly began
their journey in the Explorer program,” said Detective Nicole Frederick, one of the Post’s advisors.
The Explorers are now training for the National Law Enforcement Conference to be held in California in July.
The Explorers program provides educational training for young adults on the purposes, mission and objectives of law enforcement. The program provides career orientation experiences,
leadership opportunities and community service activities. The primary goals of the program are to help young adults choose a career path within law enforcement and to challenge them
to become responsible members of their communities.
For more information on the Police Explorers, visit EdinaMN.gov/Explorers.
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