GLENDALE, AZ -- When 15-year-old Daniel Abarca found a 5-year-old boy alone and crying in his apartment complex, he knew something wasn't right.
"I decided to take action, sort of investigate, just to make sure that he's safe," said Arbaca.
He said he discovered that the boy had run away from his school, and all alone, so Daniel jumped in to help.
Why? That is what he has been trained to do.
You see, Daniel is a member of the
Glendale Explorers.
It's a group of 14 to 20 year olds that are learning from real police officers.
"They learn about law enforcement, not just particularly the police side, I have a lot of them that want to be like a CSI," said Officer Richard Edwards, advisor for the Glendale Explorers.
The Explorers is a national group, and several Valley cities have their own post.
Glendale post #2469 has been around since 1965.
Along with the law enforcement training and physical fitness, the youngsters are taught self esteem, character building and honesty.
According to Officer Edwards, about 10 percent of the kids that go through his program will end up in a career with the Glendale Police Department.
As for Daniel, Edwards said he is really proud of him and added, "That's what the Explorers is all about."
