Police cadets learn skills and tactics

Dezmond Drayton has a passion for police work, but he isn't a police officer just yet.

Only 17 years old and a recent graduate of Garrett Academy, Drayton longs for the moment he can put on those high-glossed leather shoes, fix that shiny badge on his chest and stand tall with a state trooper hat on his head.

But already Drayton has a good idea of what it's like to be a cop, and so will more than 200 other young police cadets after this week.

The Goose Creek Police Department served as host for this year's 29th annual South Carolina Association of Law Enforcement Explorers competition as 13 teams from across the state, plus teams from Tennessee and Virginia, gathered the week of July 7 to compete in a series of tests and scenarios.

The SCALE competition places cadets in mock situations such as a high-risk traffic stop, active shooter and officer down — all tasks that are part of a regular police officer's training.

Lt. David Aarons, special operations commander at the Goose Creek Police Department, was commander of this year's events.

"The competition teaches discipline and responsibility," Aarons said. "It promotes teamwork and camaraderie, and it's also highly educational."

The competition tests cadets in physical and tactical events but also in knowledge, he said. Cadets take a test on legal matters, and a portion of the competition is dedicated to writing reports and testifying in court.

"You learn a lot of values you can't learn anywhere else," said Justin Infinger, 20. Infinger has been with the Summerville Police Cadet program on and off for about eight years, and this is his third competition.

Teams are part of either a police cadet program or a law enforcement explorer post from their respective police or sheriff's department. Explorers are part of the Learning for Life subsidiary of Boy Scouts of America.

But both groups offer 14- to 20-year-olds the opportunity to learn about law enforcement, especially if they're interested in a law enforcement career.

Drayton is a Summerville Police cadet. He said he loves the adrenaline rush that running through police work scenarios gives him.

"Police work is my passion," Drayton said. "If becoming a police officer is what you want to do, then this is one of the best things to do."

Reach Almar Flotildes at aflotildes@postandcourier.com.