Cleary University was proud to welcome the Detroit Police Law Enforcement Explorers Summer Camp Academy to our campus this July. The program does more than teach young people about careers in law enforcement. It builds character, confidence, and lifelong friendships.
For one week, more than 50 campers ages 10–18 lived in Cleary’s South Residence Hall, ate meals at Clancy’s Café, trained in our Commons and campus facilities, and participated in immersive, hands-on law enforcement scenarios. From crime scene investigations to active shooter drills, traffic stops and role plays — these young Explorers got a real-world look at the demands and responsibilities of public safety work.
“It gives them a peek behind the curtain,” said Whitney Walton, Security Director for Marathon Petroleum Detroit Refinery, which provides funding to the Explorer’s Program. “They get to learn what police are really doing when they help, that they’re not the bad guy.”
The Explorers program, led by the Detroit Public Safety Foundation in partnership with the Detroit Police Department, has impacted countless lives since its inception in 1972. Retired Sergeant Daran Carey, a 40-year veteran of the DPD and past president of Detroit Goodfellows, is a living example.
“I was one of them,” he shared, watching campers practice domestic dispute interventions in the Cleary Commons. “I literally have lifelong friends from this program. To this day, I still remember what I was taught.”
Carrie Fairfax-Moore, a 2022 Cleary University graduate and former Explorers program advisor, reflected on how the program introduces many Detroit youth to the college experience for the first time. “A lot of these kids don’t know what a college dorm looks like outside of TV. Pursuing Explorers pushes them to meet new people, to bond, and rely on each other,” she said.
Cayden Bostic, a tenth grader from Detroit’s Science and Math High School and a second-year Explorer, summed up his experience: “I love it. I love the people and the energy.” That night, he was set to DJ the camp dance in the Commons, showing off another side of the Explorer experience.
Lakeeña Henry of DPD’s Domestic Violence unit emphasized why programs like this matter: “I think the youth that continue to come back enjoy interacting with the police. I don’t want them to be afraid of us. When they call 911, now they can take what we’ve taught them to everyday life to defuse situations.”
With more than 200 registered Explorers participating in year-round events designed to instill discipline, respect, honor, and integrity, the Detroit Police Law Enforcement Explorers Camp Academy continues to be a life-changing opportunity for young people seeking purpose, discipline, and community. Cleary is proud to be part of that journey.
Neighborhood Police Officers Dan Robinson, Sr. and Roberto Berry, both Cleary University alumni, were co-directors of this year’s camp. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison and many other supporters and dignitaries stopped by Cleary for the group’s final demonstration, where the kids donned uniforms and displayed what they learned.
Yasnia Parker, 17, of Detroit Edison Public School Academy, has been an Explorer for five years and embodies what the program is all about.
“I feel like I could really change other kids and help them to see other things in life,” she says.
To learn more about the Detroit Police Law Enforcement Explorers program, visit detroitpublicsafety.org or contact the Detroit Public Safety Foundation at (313) 596-1573.
Interested in advancing your career through Cleary University’s Accelerated Degree Pathways for First Responders? Visit cleary.edu/first-responders, contact Dr. Tosha Brown at tbrown@cleary.edu or call 517-219-2605.
