College Internship Program

Our internship provides college students opportunities to grow their knowledge and experience in the field of law enforcement. We strive to encourage professional relationships and create learning opportunities for future law enforcement officers. This program focuses on our agency's goals while also supporting the student's development and learning outside of their respective college academic setting.

What to Expect

This program provides twenty-four hours of classroom instruction, eighty-four hours of riding experience with patrol officers, and twelve hours of observation and interaction in our communications center. The internship is a total of 120 hours scheduled across 15 weeks of instruction.

This is an unpaid internship with a maximum of six interns per semester.

In-House Training

The in-house training is a comprehensive course of classroom instruction supplemented with practical exercises. Each class will be taught by certified police officers, or LPD civilian staff, with specialized training in their area of instruction. Students will learn why we do what we do and get the opportunity to go "hands-on" in our breakout sessions. Participants experience our simulator, use our gear and equipment, perform basic defensive tactics maneuvers, and observe multiple demonstrations.

Ride-Alongs

Students get a behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to be a Lafayette Police Officer by riding out with uniformed patrol during their tour of duty. This unique opportunity allows the student to interact with officers and get first-hand experience of what it's like to be a part of this profession. Participants will observe how officers interact with the community, investigate incidents, make arrests, and perform many other daily routine tasks.

Dispatch

Our communications center averages over 200,000 calls a year. They are an integral part of the police department, and the officers rely on our communication technicians to provide accurate and timely information. Students get the chance to sit in dispatch and observe how our technicians receive and manage the vast amount of information funneling through this centralized hub.

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled in a criminal justice program or similar type program at an accredited university
• Must be sponsored through a university internship program or individual professor
• Must be performing the internship for a college credit
• Must have a current GPA of 2.0 or higher
• Must be a junior or senior in college

Requirements 

• Must complete an application
• Must be able to meet the 120-hour requirement outlined in the description 
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check (performed by LPD)
• Must provide reference(s) for character check
• Must be fingerprinted (performed by LPD)
• Must become CJIS certified
• Willing to acknowledge and sign a social media disclosure waiver, a physical tactics waiver, and a ride-along waiver

For more information, email or call Lieutenant Justin Hartman at 765-807-1224.