The MCSO Explorer Advisors are Detective Danielle Drogmund and Deputy Matt Colbenson.

The Mason County Public Safety Explorer Program was created in 2013 in partnership with other Mason County public safety agencies. The purpose is to provide youths ages 15 to 20 the opportunity to experience a range of public safety careers such as law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical service, corrections, dispatch, and others. Our program has five areas of emphasis: broadening career opportunities, providing leadership skills, developing character education, encouraging citizenship, and expanding life skills. Meetings are held twice a month, usually at the MCSO Shelton office. The number of Explorers fluctuates between three and fourteen participants.

Our Explorer program is associated with the Washington Law Enforcement Exploring Advisors (WLEEA). Through WLEEA, all Washington Explorers have the opportunity to meet and compete together at two six-day academies and other competitions each year. The academies are held at the Yakima Training Center and are a scaled-down version of the Washington Basic Law Enforcement Academy. WLEEA also sponsors scholarships for Explorers. Our Explorers and Advisors attend at least one academy a year.

Explorers volunteer their time at community events to provide services such as parking control, traffic control, and logistics information. They have participated in the Mason County Historical Society Annual Car Show, Tahuya Day, Allyn Days, the Belfair Parade, Mason County Forest Festival Parade, Taste of Hood Canal, Theler Egg Drop, and more.

In 2020 Our Community Credit Union pledged to fund the Explorer program, which will pay for Explorers’ uniforms and academy tuitions. The MCSO thanks our past and present donors for allowing us to provide this program at no cost to the Explorers.