ORANGE PARK – One second after four Explorers with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office made an authoritative knock on the door, they stormed into a classroom to investigate a reported domestic disturbance.

The argumentive couple was separated and each was asked questions by two groups of two officers-to-be. Chairs were knocked over; the woman had a red mark on her face; and, the man seemed unruly.

Even though it was staged, the situation seemed very real.

Clay County Dep. Ed. Kroh stood in a corner and watched. When the staged incident was done, he pointed out what the students did correctly, along with their mistakes.

The sheriff’s office hosted Explorer training Saturday at Ridgeview High. Along with Clay students, 14 other agencies participated. They spent the day practicing a variety of law enforcement skills, like how to make a traffic stop, deal with an active shooter and answer domestic violence calls.

The domestic violence actors were Sgts. Sarah Taylor and Thomas Dunlap with the Clay County Schools District Police Department. As veteran law enforcement officers, both were able to lend a realistic portrayal of a volatile situation.

Taylor gave contradicting information, saying her injuries were caused by a boyfriend or her dog. Dunlap yelled across the room and accused his ex-wife of cheating on him.

One of the Explorers then found a toy gun tucked in the back of Dunlap’s pants. He already had been placed in handcuffs so he could be searched – something Kroh said wasn’t necessary until they found the gun. They already knew he was a convicted felon after checking his identification when they entered the classroom.

Dunlap was arrested for possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. Kroh said the decision whether to charge either with domestic violence was a judgment call – although he said the displaced chairs and injury to Taylor’s face would warrant an additional charge for Dunlap.

As soon as the skit was done, the students left the classroom. Moments later, a new group of students from another county went through the same drill.

Explorers offer anyone between 14 and 21 the opportunity to undergo training similar to law enforcement officers. It’s a good way for potential deputies to know the job before they take the next step in their careers.

For more about CCSO Explorer Post 987, visit claysheriff.com/resources/youth-programs.