T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Cadets Jacob Day, from left, John Frank, Nevaeh Lilley, Haiden Merrill and Allison Provence graduate Wednesday from the second class of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office graduated its second class of its Law Enforcement Post 7 Explorers program with a ceremony Wednesday evening to congratulate the five young people who participated in law enforcement training and operations.

The graduates are Allison Provence of Shadyside, attending Treca Digital Academy; Nevaeh Lilley of Cameron, W.Va., homeschooled; Jacob Day of Bethesda, attending Union Local High School; John Frank of Rayland, attending Buckeye Local High School; and Haiden Merrill of Yorkville, attending Martins Ferry High School.

The keynote speaker was Mary R. Ryan, human resources specialist with the U.S. Department of Treasury and a 20-year career in law enforcement. That work includes time as an analyst in the FBI’s instant criminal background checks system in 1997, and as an intelligence analyst in the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence Counterterrorism Division.

She spoke to the graduates about cases she was involved with and the many career paths open in law enforcement and in support of law enforcement, such as forensics.

“Hearing what they learned about in the program, it was awesome they were able to do so much,” she said afterward.

Sheriff David Lucas then spoke about the importance of having a dream and committing to it.

“I continue to be proud and amazed by our Explorers and our leadership team,” Lucas said in a news release. “The Academy covered the basics of law enforcement; the Explorers will continue their training, as well as community service.”

Sherri Van Tassel, outreach coordinator with the sheriff’s office, described the process of building the curriculum. She said the first class worked with the Wheeling Police Department and competing with other teams to solve a simulated crime.

“We actually won. Out of 42 teams, we won,” she said. “The newest class, we’ve got a real mix of personalities, which is great. We’ve got individuals interested in very different kinds of areas. We’ve got two people who are actually signed up for our third academy,”

During the eight-week class, they have worked with deputies on numerous events.

“I just love working with the youth. Anytime you can work with youth who want to be involved in something good, they want to learn in this case about law enforcement and how law enforcement and criminal justice works, we have a better society when we invest in our youth.”

She said the sheriff’s office is working with counterparts in Jefferson and Pike counties to start their own programs. The Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association has also featured the program.

Van Tassel added that the Explorer program has grown in cadets and she hopes to have more than 20 for the third program.

Lucas also commended the parents and family members present to support the cadets.

“Our kids are the foundation for our future. They’re like the footer for our house,” he said.

He said the third program will likely begin in spring 2024.

The cadets spoke about their experiences afterward.

Frank said he is considering a career in engineering and law enforcement.

“Police work and sheriff work always had an interest for me,” he said.

Provence said Lucas recommended trying the Explorer Academy.

“Once I got into it, it was really a good learning experience finding out how the sheriff’s office operates,” she said. “If you’re considering it, definitely try it. It’s only eight weeks, but you learn a lot.”

Day said there is a need for new law enforcement officers.

“I just feel like when these people retire and all that, the youngsters are going to be the ones taking over their posts,” he said. “I’m thinking about getting a degree in criminal justice and being a police officer myself.”

Lilley intends to start as a patrol officer.

“I grew up in a first responder home and have always been really interested in law enforcement and the aspects of everything that they do,” she said. “I’ve taken a lot away from it, a love for the entire aspect of law enforcement and hope to further a career in it.”

Merrill is exploring different options in criminal justice.

“The thing that I’ve learned is amazing,” he said.

Some students in the first graduating group were also on hand to support the new graduates. Adriana Abernethy, a junior at Shadyside High School, was impressed by the Explorers and recommended the program.

“It’s taught me a lot about everything that the offices go through,” she said. “I helped them a little bit during classes. Being present helps them see how it’s going to go.”

She added she has ambitions in law enforcement.

“I want to be a K-9 officer, but I first want to go into the Air Force,” she said.

Another prior graduate was Makayla McFeley of Bellaire, about to graduate from Bellaire High School.

“It’s really helped me uncover my love for law enforcement and all of this amazing stuff that we do here,” she said. “I’m going to college to be a forensic biologist and hopefully join the FBI.”

In the future, Lucas is planning another academy for adult civilians to familiarize them with police work and further build community connections.

“That way when we are out in the community doing things, we have our community involved in helping us,” he said.