EAST PROVIDENCE — The Narragansett Council Boy Scouts of America hosted its annual Narragansett Council Dinner on April 7 when the organization honored East Providence Police Department Lieutenant David Pacheco with the William H. Spurgeon III Award, the highest award presented to volunteers in the Exploring Program.

The annual awards dinner was hosted after a two-year break due to the pandemic, at White’s of Westport in Westport, Mass.

Exploring is a co-ed, career education program for high school and college youth in a variety of career fields that include community organizations and public service roles. The William H. Spurgeon III Award was created in 1971 to honor the Exploring Program’s founder who spent over a decade establishing special interest posts in a variety of career fields for Scouts.

Pacheco, a detective and 22-year veteran of the EPPD, serves as a Post Advisor for the Exploring program. Pacheco works directly with local Scouts to provide real world experience of a career in public safety.

“Working with local Scouts is a joy. It has been rewarding to teach Scouts about public service with my fellow officers, and to see them gain real life skills,” Pacheco said. “I am honored to be recognized by the Narragansett Council.”

“Lt. Pacheco is an incredible leader for Scouts to learn from. As a dedicated community servant, he embodies the virtues of commitment, sacrifice and preparedness that we work hard to instill in our youth,” said Narragansett Council CEO Tim McCandless.

To learn more about the Exploring program and opportunities availa.ble for Scouts visit: www.ncbsa.org