What are the responsibilities and job description for the Police Intern (Unpaid) position at City of Davenport?
The Davenport Police Department is proud to partner with area universities to extend the privilege of internship experiences to college students. The DPD Student Internship Program is a dynamic, credit-bearing internship that offers some of the best hands-on experience and training available in the field of law enforcement.
The Department exposes its student interns to a vast array of areas within the Police Department. Interns receive hands-on experience in patrol techniques, criminal investigations, community policing and crime prevention, traffic enforcement, and identification and records procedures. Interns primarily observe, but they train and work as well.
Internships are typically composed of approximately 90% observation and 10% actual work. Because of the nature of police activities and the unpredictability of criminal activity, the exact experiences an intern will receive cannot be guaranteed; however, it is the intention of the Davenport Police Department to provide a comprehensive learning experience across the full spectrum of Department functions. Interns will have the opportunity to compare and contrast academic instruction with real-life law enforcement situations.
The student is placed with the Davenport Police Department for one full semester and receives college credit, but serves under the authority of the DPD and must abide by DPD general orders and professional standards. This is an unpaid position.
Intern experiences are drawn from the day-to-day operations of the Department. Over the course of the internship, interns will observe and, where appropriate, participate in a variety of law enforcement functions, which may include:
- Patrol operations across day, afternoon, and night shifts, to include beat patrol, calls for service, and response to emergency situations.
- Criminal investigations, to include the Detective Bureau and the Tactical Operations Bureau.
- Community policing and crime prevention activities.
- Traffic enforcement and traffic safety operations.
- Crime scene, identification, and records procedures, to include the Records Bureau and the Property & Evidence Unit.
The program is structured around the following objectives:
- Apply criminal justice and law enforcement concepts and theories acquired in the classroom to real-world practice and decision-making.
- Develop and improve skills in communication, technology, deductive reasoning, and teamwork.
- Observe and participate in law enforcement operations and decision-making.
- Meet professional role models and potential mentors who can provide guidance, feedback, and support.
- Expand a network of professional relationships and contacts.
- Continued development of a professional demeanor and a commitment to ethical conduct.
From the day an intern enters the Department, they are expected to assume many of the responsibilities of an employee. Ideally, at the end of the internship, the student will have acquired a basic working knowledge of the entire spectrum of functions performed by the Department.
Applicants must:
- Be a currently enrolled college or university student pursuing the internship for academic credit.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Have met all university internship requirements and be eligible for placement through their university internship coordinator. Documentation of eligibility from the university internship coordinator is required.
Selection is competitive due to the limited number of available positions. Selection is based on the following seven areas:
- Application / Personal History Questionnaire
- Education
- Prior Work Experience
- Polygraph Screening / Examination
- Oral Interview
- Personal References
- Background Check
Additional Requirements
- Applicants must submit to and pass a polygraph screening/examination, which is conducted prior to the oral interview.
- Applicants must pass a background check, which reviews past criminal history, driving record, drug use, and moral turpitude.
- The oral interview evaluates communication skills, level of interest in the position, personal demeanor, and professional appearance.
- Personal references are used to verify the applicant's good moral character.
- A cover letter and resume are required with the application.
Compensation
Interns receive no monetary compensation for participation. All students are responsible for their own tuition and expenses.
Availability
Positions are limited and competitive. The Department generally accepts two to three interns per semester and one to two interns during the summer.