LATEST NEWS

  • Explorer Bryan HuynhHua from the Westminster Police Explorer post was earned the award honoring Officer Matt Ward, the Overall Top Explorer at the 2022 Summer Explorer Academy.  The Academy was sponsored and run by the Orange County Law Enforcement Explorer Advisor Association.  Over 65 Explorers from  Orange County and Long
  • Westminster Police Explorer Paul Khong was surprised when at his Post meeting in June 2022, he was awarded the Matt Ward Memorial Scholarship.  Presenting to Paul are Matt’s mom, Gloria Opstad and Officer Roland Perez from the Westminster Police Department.  
  • Santa Ana Police Explorer, Gabriela Ayala was awarded the Matt Ward Memorial Scholarship at their awards ceremony.  Presenting to Gabriela are Matt’s parents David and Gloria Opstad and brother Officer Rob Ward from Tustin Police department.
  • Based on the success of the Dueling Piano Fundraiser, this summer we were able to expand the reach of the Matt Ward Exploring On Association and award seven Matt Ward Memorial Scholarships to Explorers from San Bernardino, across Orange County and Long Beach.  The recipients were Jennifer Garcia from San
  • It will be 7 weeks ago Thursday that we had our first big event, the Dueling Piano fundraiser.  Turns out that was the day before the last in-person day of school, before all of our lives and lifestyles changed, before the dark cloud of COVID 19 affected us all.  It
  • Yesterday, 135 Explorers graduated from the Police Explorers Academy representing Posts from as far as Mammoth Lakes, all of Orange County, Long Beach, Riverside and San Bernardino, including seven Explorers from Cypress where Matt was an advisor.  This year’s Matt Ward Overall Best Award was given to Max Perez from
  • We are excited to announce our first fundraising event, a night of fun with Dueling Pianos, great stuff to bid on, and yummy appetizers to graze upon.  Tickets are limited and we are taking reservations here.  It’s going to be a great evening.  Hope to see you there!  
  • On Sunday August 4, 2019, at the graduation ceremony for the Summer Academy, Explorer  Collin Hurd from Orange County Sheriff Department was awarded the newly named Officer Matthew Ward Memorial Award for Best Overall Explorer.  The presentation was made by Gloria Opstad with Allison Ward, Liam and Anderson Ward, Officer
  • On May 10, 2018 Long Beach Police Officer Sondra Ledesma rode in the Police Unity Tour from Somerset, New Jersey to Washington DC in honor of Officer Matt Ward. The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement officers who have died in the