Sgt. Samantha Pineda: Explorer of the Year has ambitious career plans

A Santa Paula Police Explorer who wants social media to share a more positive view of what officers do to protect the public - and who has ambitious plans for a law enforcement career and beyond - was honored as the Explorer of the Year at a recent ceremony.

Sgt. Samantha Pineda of SPPD Explorer Post 2350 was honored January 23 at the annual Explorer of the Year ceremony held at Newbury Park High School.

Each Explorer Post throughout Ventura County - 10 in all - honored an Explorer of the Year for outstanding individual achievements.

SPPD Sgt. Ken Clark, the advisor to the Explorer Post, said Samantha “Deserved the honor... she is very dedicated to the program. She holds the rank of sergeant but she is the highest ranking Explorer we have,” and is entrusted with running meetings where new Explorers are taken into the program.

According to the nomination, Samantha became involved early on in the program: a Santa Paula resident since November 2009, she joined the Santa Paula Police Explorers in January 2010 and graduated from the Explorer Academy that August.

“Samantha worked tirelessly at every detail she was asked to attend, always helping the public and giving them her kind and courteous smile,” and often coordinated and supervised new recruits at details and meetings.

Samantha, who, “Took the role of mentor very seriously,” was promoted to the rank of Sgt. in 2014.

She graduated from Santa Paula High School in 2012 and is currently attending Ventura Community College. Once she obtains her AA degree, Samantha plans to transfer to a University to get her BA, Master and PHD in Criminal Justice.

She plans on working as a police officer while finishing her schooling, get promoted to detective and eventually become a forensic medical examiner, a position not traditionally filled by law enforcement.

Samantha noted the nomination, “wants to make a difference in all the people’s lives that she comes in contact with. But her biggest aspiration is to change the view society has of police. 

“Samantha doesn’t want the Police to forever be thought of as the ‘Bad guys.’ She says that the Police have taken an oath to serve and protect, and she wants the people to know that the moment they hear our sirens that help is on the way and they are safe. She wants the people to see us patrolling the streets and know they’re being protected. She wants the public to drive by our stations and departments and know they can trust us.”