Simi Valley's Police Explorer program is gearing up for its 14th annual Cops N' Cruisers car show, a free-to-attend fundraiser packed with custom cars, K-9 demonstrations, food trucks and raffles set for Sunday, September 27, from 9 am to 2 pm. The event will roll into the shared parking lots at Simi Valley City Hall and the Simi Valley Public Library at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road, with all proceeds benefiting Simi Valley Police Explorer Post 2910.
The announcement came Wednesday from the Simi Valley Police Department, which is promoting vehicle registration that's now open through the event's official site, copsncruisers.com. Notably, the show doesn't take place at police headquarters itself — that's roughly two miles away on Alamo Street, according to the Conejo Valley Guide. Organizers instead chose the City Hall and library campus, likely to accommodate the crowds and rows of vehicles the show tends to draw.
A 14-Year Tradition With Deep Local Roots
This year's show marks the 14th installment of Cops N' Cruisers, a fundraiser that the Conejo Valley Guide reports began around 2011 to support local police youth programs. Vehicle entries span custom cars, hot rods, 4x4s, classic cars and exotics, while commercial vendors hoping to set up booths must hold a valid Simi Valley business license and submit proof of that licensure with their applications, per the show's own rules.
Beyond the vehicles themselves, spectators can expect a Dunk-a-Cop booth, live entertainment, food trucks, silent auctions and raffles, according to Visit Simi Valley. Admission for spectators remains free, with the event instead generating revenue through vehicle registration fees and raffle sales.
The Program Behind the Party
Money raised at the show flows to Explorer Post 2910, a youth program established in the 1970s that gives young people ages 14 to 20 a hands-on look at law enforcement careers through modified academies, patrol ride-alongs and community service, per the Simi Valley Police Explorers' own site. The post holds weekly meetings on Monday evenings at police headquarters, where explorers are mentored by patrol officers from a Patrol Bureau that fields roughly 60 officers responding to more than 40,000 calls for service annually across the city, according to the City of Simi Valley.
The post's fundraising arm, Friends of the Simi Valley Police Explorers 2910, is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pulled in $79,834 in total revenue during 2025, according to Cause IQ. Those funds go toward explorer equipment, competition fees and academy costs. The foundation also administers the Russ McClellan Memorial Scholarship, open to local residents ages 17 to 22 heading to college or trade school who submit personal statements and recommendations demonstrating leadership.
Part of a Statewide Legacy
Simi Valley's Explorer post traces back to a much older tradition. Law Enforcement Exploring began in California in 1958 through the Santa Ana Police Department before growing into a nationwide career-interest division of Learning for Life under the Boy Scouts of America, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Early iterations of the program required participants to maintain clean records and academic standards, a legacy that still shapes how posts like 2910 operate today.
Cops N' Cruisers isn't the only charity car show competing for Ventura County's weekend auto enthusiasts this fall. The Conejo Valley Guide notes that the 35th Annual Central Coast British Car Club Show in Oxnard is scheduled for the same date in 2026, with both nonprofit events offering free spectator admission.
