Columbia Police Explorers Earn National Honors, Recognized with City Proclamation

Columbia Police Department Explorer Post 786 has been recognized for outstanding achievements at the South Carolina Association of Law Enforcement Explorers Competition, held June 27–July 3 in Columbia, S.C. The group, led by CPD advisors Sergeant Cheryl Macpherson and Corporal Landen Barber, brought home eight team trophies, including first-place finishes in Active Shooter Response, Civil Disturbance Investigation, and Overall. They also secured second place in Arrest Search Warrant and Unknown Risk Traffic Stop, along with third place in Domestic Investigations, Officer Down, and Felony Traffic Stop. In addition to the trophies, the Columbia Explorers made history by being named the 2025 Explorer Post of the Year, becoming the first agency outside South Carolina to receive the honor. Members of the award-winning team are Daisy Boyle, Shelby Davis, Brenden Pavlik, Aiden Watkins, Wyatt Bridge, and Max Cochran. To recognize their success, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder proclaimed Friday, September 12, 2025, as “Columbia Police Department Explorer Post 786 Day.”