Mark Massoni struggles to keep a stern expression and a hostile tone as he pretends to be a hostage-taker.

But he can't help but smile and shake his head as he mutters, "I can't believe I'm saying this."

Massoni's difficult role-playing is for the benefit of four police hopefuls playing the role of a critical-incident negotiation team. All of the participants are members of the Howard County Police Department Law Enforcement Explorer Program, also known as Explorer Post 1952.

The Explorer program is a career education program, allowing students ages 14 through 20 to gain insight into a career in law enforcement. There are 21 members.

Massoni, 18, who has been a member for the past year and a half, joined the program as "something to do on the way" to becoming a police officer.

"I've known I wanted to be a trooper since I was 5 years old," said the Towson University freshman, adding that he plans to enter the police academy when he turns 20 1/2 , the age of eligibility.

The program, founded in Howard County in 1975, is tailor-made for aspiring officers such as Massoni because it provides a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience in the duties of a police officer.

Participants receive training in several police procedures, including traffic patrol and bomb-threat response. This month, members are training in hostage negotiation.

Explorers also volunteer for the department, performing duties such as parking cars, distributing fliers at events and dressing up as McGruff the Crime Dog, the police mascot.

Four officers assist with the program, which is operated under the youth services division. An additional 10 officers volunteer with the program, helping with training and events.

Many of the officers are former Explorers, including the program's adviser, Pfc. Chris Davis.

Like Massoni, Davis joined the Explorers program in high school with two friends as "something to do in the meantime."

He said the program affirmed his desire to join the force.

"It's the reason why I'm a police officer here," Davis said.

Davis said of the 21 members, seven are new to the program. He said he received 20 applications last month.

Nationally, 64 percent of Explorers continue in law enforcement, Davis said, adding that the rate in Howard County is slightly lower because of the "abundance of careers in the area."

Michael McChesney, a junior at Atholton High School and a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps there, joined Explorers in July 2006 at the recommendation of a friend.

To his surprise, he became highly involved and describes his relationship with the other members as a "brother-sisterhood thing."

McChesney hopes one day to work for the communications division of the county police department, then as an intelligence analyst for the National Security Agency or another federal agency. He credits these aspirations to the Explorers' program.

"I never thought about working for the Police Department before joining Explorers," he said.

Information on the Explorers program: www.post1952.com.