In May, King County prosecutors filed sexual assault charges against a King County sheriff’s deputy.

They said he raped a 17-year-old girl. 

Prosecutors claim the abuse started while the two were alone on a ride-along in his police SUV while she was participating in Explorers, a national youth mentorship program, with the Burien Police Department. 

And that allegation mirrors a disturbing pattern of abuse within Explorers programs at law enforcement agencies nationwide.

We talk with a reporter who has investigated the program about what she found. 

Guest

Lakeidra Chavis, former reporter, The Marshall Project

Related Links

In Police Youth Program, Abuse Often Starts When Officers Are Alone With Teens in Cars - The Marshall Project

King County sheriff’s deputy charged with rape, sexual misconduct  - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

 

In May, King County prosecutors filed sexual assault charges against a King County sheriff&rsquo;s deputy.
They said he raped a 17-year-old girl.&nbsp;
Prosecutors claim the abuse started while the two were alone on a ride-along in his police SUV while she was participating in Explorers, a national youth mentorship program, with the Burien Police Department.&nbsp;
And that allegation mirrors a disturbing pattern of abuse within Explorers programs at law enforcement agencies nationwide.
We talk with a reporter who has investigated the program about what she found.&nbsp;
Guest
Lakeidra Chavis, former reporter, The Marshall Project
Related Links
<a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2025/09/03/police-explorers-abuse-ride-alongs">In Police Youth Program, Abuse Often Starts When Officers Are Alone With Teens in Cars</a> - The Marshall Project
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/king-county-sheriffs-deputy-charged-with-rape-sexual-misconduct/">King County sheriff&rsquo;s deputy charged with rape, sexual misconduct </a>&nbsp;- The Seattle Times
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Soundside

That allegation mirrors a disturbing pattern of abuse within Explorers programs at law enforcement agencies.

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