Crime Junkie – SCANDAL: Police Explorer Programs

Podcast: Crime Junkie
Host: Ashley Flowers, with Britt Prawat
Date: December 22, 2025
Episode: SCANDAL: Police Explorer Programs

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into a disturbing, systemic issue plaguing Police Explorer programs across the U.S.: the persistent abuse of power and sexual misconduct by officers entrusted with mentoring youth. Using the tragic story of Heidi Gatliff from Indianapolis as a focal point, Ashley and Britt uncover how a lack of oversight, murky policies, and cultural failures have enabled predatory behavior in Explorer posts for decades. The episode weaves investigative reporting, survivor testimony, and institutional analysis to reveal shocking patterns and offer a call to action for meaningful change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case of Heidi Gatliff

[02:36 - 13:14]

• Heidi’s Death:

  • On November 2, 2015, 18-year-old Heidi Gatliff, an enthusiastic member of Indianapolis’s Police Explorer program, died by suicide at home.
  • Officer Francisco “Paco” Olmos had arrived at the Gatliffs’ home under the pretense of discussing a “case” with Heidi—a claim that, in hindsight, made no sense.
  • When Heidi’s father found her unresponsive with a gun nearby, Francisco did not assist but used Heidi’s phone to call her Explorer Advisor, Daniel Bowman, then locked the phone—promptly making evidence inaccessible.

• Family’s Perspective:

  • The family describes total shock; Heidi was upbeat and passionate about law enforcement, with no overt signs of a crisis.
  • Her suicide note apologized for “hurting people’s careers,” but provided little closure.

• Phone Evidence & Suspicion:

  • Suspicion arises over Francisco’s behavior, especially his handling of Heidi’s phone, using it immediately after her death, then locking it.
  • Ashley: “Francisco was able to place that call, presumably without having a passcode to open the phone.” [11:49]
  • Britt: “Which means Francisco locked the phone.” [11:51]

2. Cultures of Grooming and Ethical Failures

[14:14 - 38:32]

• Investigation into Francisco & Daniel:

  • Both Francisco Olmos and Daniel Bowman had close, questionable contact with Heidi, violating ethical boundaries regardless of legal age.
  • Francisco exchanged hundreds of calls and texts with Heidi in her last months, with his tone ranging from flirty to controlling and manipulative.
    • Ashley: “Francisco's tone goes from, like, flirty to furious. He berates her for lying and gaslights her…” [36:47]
  • Both officers were ultimately dismissed and faced criminal charges for obstruction of justice and domestic abuse (Bowman), but not for sexual misconduct or statutory violations.

• Obstruction & Systemic Problems:

  • After years of stonewalling, it was found that Francisco deleted messages and deliberately locked Heidi’s phone to prevent investigation.
  • Ashley laments IMPD’s lack of transparency: “IMPD has consistently been one of the hardest to get records from… Are we hiding something?” [36:36]

• Manipulative Dynamics:

  • Both officers appeared to use their roles to vie for Heidi’s attention and affection, creating “a toxic Triangle dynamic.” [43:14]
  • “Heidi was in an inappropriate relationship involving both men and that they both groomed her, using their authority and access as officers to build her trust and blur the boundaries.” [45:23]

3. Patterns of Abuse in Explorer Programs Nationally

[45:05 - 61:36]

• Institutional Failures:

  • Explorer programs, run under Learning for Life (affiliated with Scouting America), have historically lacked safeguards to protect teens—especially concerning communication and ride-alongs.
  • National investigations have found over 217 allegations of abuse linked to Explorer programs since the 1970s—half of officer/teen sexual misconduct cases in law enforcement arise from these posts.
    • “Nearly half of all reported cases of officer sexual misconduct with teenagers happen in Explorer posts.” [47:06]
  • Ride-alongs, often unsupervised, represent a prime opportunity for grooming and abuse.
    • Britt: “But doesn't that two deep leadership rule apply everywhere except ride alongs?” [51:07]

• Grooming Testimonies (Kate & Jennifer’s Stories):

  • Survivors recount how trusted officers manipulated, groomed, and eventually assaulted them under the guise of mentorship and professional guidance.
  • “He (Officer Laroche) absolutely knew what he was doing, and he made sure Kate knew, too.” [58:14]
  • Even when reported, consequences for perpetrators are rare or minimal, and victim-blaming runs rampant in both courts and communities.

4. Institutional Response—and Lack Thereof

[61:36 - 73:14]

• Prosecution & Consequences:

  • Most offenders receive minimal sentences or plea down to non-sexual charges (~50% serve any jail time).
  • Daniel Bowman received an eight-year sentence for domestic violence, not for anything related to Heidi; Francisco received probation and community service for obstruction—not for exploitation.

• Reforms and Policy Gaps:

  • Only as of 2025 has IMPD barred officers from relationships with Explorers and Learning for Life mandated two adults on ride-alongs for teens under 18.
  • Historically, agencies have self-policed, with little central accountability.

• Systemic Enablers:

  • “Don’t just grab whoever’s free and hand them a group of teenagers… The qualifications are pretty minimal.” [72:24]
  • Advisor training is negligible—Nina, the show’s investigative reporter, completed all required safety certs from her couch in one night.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ethical Blind Spots:

  • Ashley: “A birthday does not erase the power imbalance.” [52:03]
  • Britt: “If you're goofing around as a supervisory officer gives a minor in your care the impression that she has a relationship with you, that's, like, the bigger problem, right?” [33:34]

• On the Scope of Abuse:

  • Ashley: “It is never your responsibility to make adults feel comfortable and you do not have to protect them from their own actions.” [76:07]

• On Agency Accountability:

  • Ashley: “This isn’t just about a few bad apples. This is… about a system that allowed them to operate, policies that left massive gaps, higher ups that looked the other way or downplayed allegations, and a culture that protected the institution first and the kids last.” [69:18]

• On Victim Blaming:

  • Ashley: “Survivors are held to impossible standards… If they don't match what people think a real victim, quote, unquote, looks like, they're not believed.” [61:36]
  • Britt: “She was never going to make herself the perfect victim for them, which is... what we see all the time, right?” [61:44]

Recommendations & Takeaways

For Agencies:

• Define and act swiftly on inappropriate contact, even if it seems minor (“shoulder rubs, oversharing”).
• Make ride-along assignments random and ensure two adults are present for any underage participant.
• Incorporate real oversight: employ tech (audio, video in cars), track all communication, enforce reporting and repercussions.
  • Ashley: “If it protects even one kid, it is worth it. I don’t care if you’re uncomfortable.” [74:57]

For Parents:

• Treat Explorer programs with the same scrutiny as any childcare environment—know the advisors, policies, and complaint procedures. Stay visibly involved.
• Have ongoing open conversations about boundaries and reporting.

For Youth:

• Trust your instincts about crossed boundaries—you owe adults nothing.
• “You do not have to justify it. You do not have to excuse it away… Even if you couldn’t say no in the moment... Power dynamics can twist what feels like a choice, and you deserve support no matter what.” [76:07]

Important Timestamps

• [02:36] – Heidi Gatliff’s story introduction
• [14:14] – Early investigation, suspicion around Francisco
• [25:44] – Heidi’s friends record Francisco fishing for information
• [38:01] – The toxic triangle: Both men implicated
• [47:06] – National statistics and patterns of abuse
• [52:03] – How grooming exploits power imbalances
• [57:30] – Kate’s story: Survivor testimony of grooming and assault (New Hampshire)
• [61:36] – “Perfect victim” standards and court failures
• [72:24] – Advisor selection/training—how it fails
• [74:57] – Concrete recommendations to fix the system

Tone & Delivery

Ashley and Britt’s tone is passionate, direct, and empathetic, balancing investigative clarity with survivor solidarity and open outrage at institutional failures. Their conversation is woven with real quotes, survivor perspectives, and is unflinching in confronting uncomfortable truths.

Closing

The episode is a powerful indictment of policing culture’s blind spots and a call for meaningful change—not just policy tweaks, but genuine community vigilance and institutional responsibility.

Ashley: “If any part of this episode hits home, talk about it. Share this episode. We can do better. We have to. For Heidi and Kate and Jennifer and for the next teenager who walks into an Explore post with dreams of one day wearing a badge.” [78:07]

Relevant Resources:
Hotlines for sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, and suicide prevention are included in show notes at crimejunkie.com.