Criminal justice students gain hands-on experience during summer internship with DPD

What was just another day at the office for DPD officers was an eye-opening experience for these undergraduate students from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students Kenneth Cockrel, Danielle Klovski and Kevin Rader were assigned to different precincts within the department.

"For part of the internship I worked in the Commercial Auto Theft Section, which is an undercover unit," says Rader. "I was able to be in the car during a high-speed chase on the west side of Detroit. We followed the two suspects and I actually had the chance to witness that chase in action."

Observing how DPD officers handled high-priority calls created an intense but enlightening environment for one intern.

"I was assigned to the fifth precinct detectives unit and was able to assist the detectives," says Cockrel. "We went to a holding facility on Mound and also visited the Detroit Detention Center. We actually were able to sit in and watch detectives interrogate suspects."

From the day-to-day duties performed to the outstanding officers and detectives these interns worked with, this internship reaffirmed their passion for criminal justice.

"I'll never forget the people I met and the lessons learned while working the Crime Scene Unit during the midnight shift," recalls Klovski. "They let me lift DNA, take photos, proofread and write their reports. The night shift was my favorite part of the internship because it solidified everything I was taught in the classroom."

From undercover and detective units to midnight crime scenes, these interns had an inside look at what it's really like to work as an officer in the DPD. They recommend all criminal justice students take advantage of this hands-on learning experience.

"I highly suggest students in this department look into the DPD internship program," says Cockrel. "If you're interested in law enforcement, you will get a firsthand look at what this job entails."