SCANDAL: Police Explorer Programs

Law enforcement Explorer programs were created to mentor teens interested in policing. But decades of weak oversight created an environment where officers could manipulate that trust. Some exploited their roles, using their authority to groom, abuse, and silence the very teens they were entrusted to guide.Resources:RAINN – Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: 24/7 hotline and resources for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visitrainn.orgNational Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Research, education, and tools to support prevention and survivor recovery. Visitnsvrc.orgJoyful Heart Foundation: Works to transform the response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, while supporting healing and survivor advocacy. Visitjoyfulheartfoundation.orgChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Confidential support for anyone concerned about child abuse. Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visitchildhelphotline.orgVictimConnect Resource Center: Provides free, confidential support and referrals for people affected by crime, including sexual abuse and misconduct by authority figures. Call 1-855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846) or visitvictimconnect.orgNational Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): Expert guidance, therapist locators, and educational tools for families navigating trauma and abuse. Visitnctsn.orgBloom365: Youth-focused organization working to end teen dating abuse, sexual violence, and trauma through prevention, peer advocacy, and healing services. Call or text the Bloom helpline at 1-888-606-HOPE (4673) or visitbloom365.orgCDC – Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: Evidence-based strategies and data about child sexual abuse in the U.S. Visit cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childsexualabuseState Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers: Directory to report child abuse to agencies. Visit childwelfare.gov/state-child-abuse-and-neglect-reporting-numbers988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources. Call 988 or visit988lifeline.orgCrisis Text Line: 24/7 mental health support via text. Text "HOME" to 741741 or visitcrisistextline.orgNational Domestic Violence Hotline: Support for those experiencing abuse or coercive control. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text "START" to 88788, or visitthehotline.orgLove is Respect: Help for teens and young adults in abusive relationships.Call 1-866-331-9474, text "LOVEIS" to 22522, or visitloveisrespect.orgNational Center for Victims of Crime: Provides advocacy, legal information, and trauma-informed resources for survivors of sexual abuse, harassment, and exploitation. Visitvictimsofcrime.orgMale Survivor: Support for male survivors of sexual abuse and assault, including institutional or authority-based abuse. Visitmalesurvivor.orgStaying Safe in Youth Law Enforcement Programs:If you or your child is involved in a Police Explorer program – or any youth mentorship run by law enforcement – there are steps you can take to reduce risk and create safer boundaries.Ask direct questions. Who runs the program? What are the policies around texting, ride-alongs, and one-on-one interactions? Are there rules that limit contact between adult officers and minors outside of scheduled events?Insist on transparency. Reputable programs should have clear, written guidelines about communication, supervision, and conduct. Ask to see them.Monitor ride-alongs. Know who your child is riding with, how long they're gone, and what the reporting procedures are.Watch the tech. Officers or advisors should never be Snapchatting, DMing, or texting minors privately. Monitor app usage and discuss healthy boundaries.Get involved. Show up to meetings. Get to know the adults running the program. Your presence as a parent or guardian helps make the space safer for everyone.Keep communication open. Let your child know they can talk to you about anything -- especially if something makes them uncomfortable. Make it clear that they won’t be in trouble for speaking up.Getting Help:If you or someone you know has experienced abuse in a Police Explorer or similar youth program, here’s what to do:Believe them. If a child or teen discloses abuse, believe what they say. Stay calm, listen, and affirm that it’s not their fault. Praise them for coming forward.Report it. If the child is in danger, call 911. Otherwise, contact your local police, sheriff's department, or state child protection agency. If you’re concerned local police might have a conflict of interest, contact your state police, state attorney general, or the FBI.Document/preserve everything. Save messages, screenshots, call logs — anything that could help support the report.Seek emotional support: Abuse by a trusted adult is incredibly disorienting. You and/or your child deserve compassionate care from someone trained in trauma -- like a therapist, school counselor, or crisis line advocate.Connect with survivor resources. Many organizations offer specialized support for young people.Consult legal counsel: Some survivors explore civil legal action against individuals or institutions. An attorney familiar with institutional abuse cases can help assess your options.Red Flags: Signs of Grooming or Abuse in Explorer Programs:Abuse by authority figures often begins with grooming -- a gradual, often-subtle process that builds trust before violating it. Here are common warning signs in youth law enforcement programs:“Special” treatment. One teen is singled out for attention, gifts, mentorship, or exclusive opportunities not given to others.Excessive one-on-one contact. Repeated private ride-alongs, late-night messages, or invitations to hang out off-duty.Private communication. The adult uses personal texting apps, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, or other unmonitored channels to talk to a minor.Overstepping/blurring boundaries. Inappropriate compliments, jokes about relationships, or sharing personal details not appropriate for a mentor-mentee dynamic.Isolation. The adult discourages the teen from talking to others about their relationship or makes the teen feel responsible for their secrecy.Gaslighting or guilt. The adult blames the teen for misunderstandings, manipulates their emotions, or makes them feel they’ll “ruin someone’s life” if they speak out.Physical contact. Touch that’s unnecessary, prolonged, or makes the teen uncomfortable -- even if it’s framed as casual or accidental. You can learn more about The Good segment and even submit a story of your own by visiting The Good page on our website! Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/scandal-police-explorer-programs/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 2021, 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her apartment. And what Massachusetts investigators quickly called a suicide slowly revealed itself to be something much more sinister. Because out of the woodwork came friends, family, and co-workers with stories that Sandra had told them about her life. Stories of grooming, sexual abuse, and years of misconduct at the hands of several Stoughton Police officers… which began when she was barely a teenager. Three officers later resigned from the department. With a 2026 federal trial pending, the whole state has been left to wonder whether Sandra’s death was truly a suicide – as state police continue to maintain – or the end result of something much darker. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJPFejHEi4c Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-sandra-birchmore/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For decades, police said Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac died via suicide by masturbation. But her family always believed there was more to Rowena’s death than met the eye. Could she have been the victim of a serial killer passing through Texas, or could her case be connected to the deaths of two other women in the area?If you have any information about the deaths of Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac or Melody Ann Bush, please contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at (979) 968-5856 or email us at [email protected] HERE to view and sign Joleta’s petition asking Fayette County to change Rowena’s manner of death on her death certificate to homicide. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEoLPgUDUyQ Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-of-rowena-wilkinson-zapalac/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When a couple from Oso, Washington, is discovered missing, it doesn’t take long for detectives to develop a prime suspect. But solving the case, finding their bodies and capturing the killer took approximately 100 days, using a combination of old-school investigative methods and modern forensic tools.Click HERE to view the footage from SnoHawk 1’s camera, courtesy of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ntgTjRbQpISource materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-patrick-shunn-and-monique-patenaude/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A rising Broadway star. A mysterious SOS alert. And a car left abandoned at a trailhead wrecked by Hurricane Helene. When 28-year-old Zelig Williams vanishes on October 3rd, 2024, there’s no sign of a crash, his phone, or him. Is this the result of a mental health emergency, a tragic accident or did someone lure Zelig into the woods, never intending to let him leave?If you have any information on the disappearance of Zelig Williams, you can contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 803-576-3000. If you’d like to remain anonymous, you can call the Crime Stoppers of the Midlands at 888-274-6372.If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/missing-zelig-williams/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1985, 27-year-old Linda Sherman vanished – just as she was making plans to leave her tumultuous marriage. For five long years, her family had no answers — until a human skull appeared beneath a restaurant window near a St. Louis, Missouri-area airport -- where her husband was a regular. Decades later, Linda’s daughter is still searching for the truth about what happened to her mother.If you have any information about the murder of Linda Sherman, please contact St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-8477 or submit a tip online here.You can also contact the North County Police Cooperative at 314-428-7374.If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm83loBy-UY Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-linda-sherman/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit crimejunkie.app/library/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In June of 2023, a woman was brutally murdered in Floyd County, Kentucky, while attending a gathering at the home of a local dentist. The slaying rocked the small communities of eastern Kentucky as months ticked by, rumors swirled and no one was held accountable. Finally, in July 2024, three men were charged in connection to her death and the trial is right around the corner. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDhAPpAINgASource materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/infamous-amber-spradlin/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit crimejunkie.app/library/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1980, the tiny town of San Miguel, California, was shaken when two kindergarten girls vanished in broad daylight from a main street. Despite a long list of local child predators and bizarre clues, the trail went cold in a matter of years. But now, nearly 5 decades later, the very detective who solved the Kristin Smart case has come out of retirement to take another look, and he’s closer than ever before to a solve.Terry’s family is currently trying to raise $10,000 for a billboard on Highway 101 and $25,000 to create a reward for information.  If you’d like to  help her out with that we’ve included the link here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-mezo-flores-murder-case Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFF-Gv8y0tw Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-teresa-flores-martha-mezo/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit crimejunkie.app/library/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

His friends brought him home saying he was drunk, but the truth tells a much different story. 18-year-old Christion Olson heads out for a night with friends on July 12th, 2024. But when he comes home early the next morning, the unimaginable happens. His family is left to grapple with tragedy while they search for answers. Only to be met with silence, shifting stories, and people that might be more interested in protecting themselves than sharing the truth. Nearly everything about that night feels wrong—and maybe that’s why it seems like everyone there that night has something to hide…If you have any pertinent information about Christion’s case or the early morning hours of July 13th, 2024, on or around Topaz Lane, please contact the Brunswick Hills Police Department. The Chief of Police made a website specifically for Christion’s case which you can access HERE. You’ll find a number to dispatch, a link to send information straight to investigators, and ways to share a tip anonymously. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKImZhbbObE Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-christion-olson/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit crimejunkie.app/library/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A frantic phone call, an abrupt departure, and then… silence. When Everett and Lydia Thompson disappear along with their two young sons, the trail leads to one man whose story keeps changing. But instead of swift action, investigators initially delay and brush off a family’s cry for answers. Potentially giving the suspect time to erase evidence – and the Thompson family themselves. Nearly thirty years later, their fate remains a chilling mystery that may have been solvable from the start.If you know anything about the disappearance of the Thompson family, call the Chicago Police Department’s Missing Persons Division at 312-745-5020 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).If you or anyone you know is thinking about suicide, please be aware that emotional support can be reached by calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, where trained counselors are available 24/7 to provide support. Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/missing-the-thompson-family/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit crimejunkie.app/library/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.