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July 8, 2025 18 mins
Inside the Explorer Program: How Cops Used Mentorship to Exploit Sandra Birchmore

Description:
What happens when a program meant to inspire young people becomes a pipeline for abuse? Sandra Birchmore joined the Stoughton Police Explorer Program at age 13, believing it would shape her future. Instead, it allegedly became the beginning of years-long grooming by a man in uniform—and silence from those around him. In this chilling episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott breaks down the dark psychology behind mentorship-based grooming, how power and trust are weaponized, and why institutional silence is often the predator’s best defense.

We’re pulling back the curtain on how these programs fail—and how young lives are destroyed in the process.

#SandraBirchmore #ExplorerProgram #PoliceGrooming #YouthAbuse #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimeDeepDive #MentorshipExploitation #InstitutionalFailure #HiddenKillersPodcast #TonyBrueski

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