Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Explorer Post 900

Florida Association of Police Explorers (F.A.P.E.)

What:                                  
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 900 finished 2^nd place overall in the 2016 Florida Association of Police Explorers (F.A.P.E.) Statewide Competition in Orlando.

When:                                            
The competition took place from June 19, 2016 to June 25, 2016 .

Where:
The competition was held in Orlando, Florida. 

Why/How:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 900 finished 2^nd place overall in the 2016 Florida Association of Police Explorers (F.A.P.E.) Statewide Competition in Orlando.

Competing against 34 other law enforcement explorer posts from across Florida, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 900, “Team Alpha” won the 2^nd Place overall championship trophy.  The team comprised of Explorer Captain Zoe Gambel, Explorer Lieutenant Alvin Pinero, Explorer Sergeant Chase Fails and Explorer Corporal Conner Davis.

Team Alpha placed in five out of the seven different competition events.  They received a 2^nd place trophy in Active Shooter, 2^nd place trophy in Crisis Intervention, 3^rd Place trophy in Arrest & Search, 3^rd place in the tie breaker event, and 5^th place in the traffic stop event.

The Explorer Post 900 Pistol Team finished 2^nd overall in the shooting competition.  The pistol team was represented by Explorer Major Spencer Shaw, Explorer Captain Zoe Gambel, Explorer Sergeant Chase Fails and Explorer Andrew Aponte.  Individual shooting awards were given to Explorer Andrew Aponte for 2^nd place in the expert division.  Explorer Major Spencer Shaw received 3^rd place in the expert division and Explorer Captain Zoe Gambel received 3^rd place in the marksman division.  Several explorers were recognized as the range master’s top 10 shooters for the year.  Explorers Andrew Aponte, Spencer Shaw, and Chase Fails were among the top 10.  Their success on the pistol range was attributed to the hours of range time at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Pistol Range, and the instruction and encouragement from their Post Advisors.

Explorer post members also participated in optional events including the Honor Guard competition and Drill Team competition.  Color Guard members Explorer Major Spencer Shaw, Explorer Captain Zoe Gambel, Explorer Cassy Bonsall, and Explorer Caressa Cook received the 1^st place trophy.  Drill Team members Explorer Major Spencer Shaw, Explorer Captain Zoe Gambel, Explorer Sergeant Chase Fails, Explorer Corporal Conner Davis, Explorer Christian Binning, Explorer Cassy Bonsall, Explorer Ali Epperson, Explorer Caressa Cook, and Explorer Andrew Aponte received 3^rd place overall in the Drill Team competition.

Explorer post advisor Deputy Alyson Towne, received the Explorer State Advisor Award at the end of the week.  

We are very proud of the efforts and accomplishments of Explorer Post 900. They prepared and performed as a championship law enforcement team!  Their success was a credit to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, and the countless agency members that helped to support and encourage them.  Congratulations Explorer Post 900!

For more information regarding the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post #900 go to www.post900.com

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will co-host the 4^th Annual Multi-Jurisdictional Law Enforcement Explorer Academy available to young men and women between the ages of 14-18 years old.  The academy will run from July 25, 2016 thru July 29, 2016. For more information please visit: http://police.stpete.org/usb/docs/01-16-explorer-academy-flyer.pdf


All State Participants

State Competitors

Shooting Competitors

Honor Guard Team