L.A. Internships

[Sleet]

I'm currently living in N. Virginia, but will be relocating to Los Angeles, Pasadena, at the end of this month. All I have left to graduate is to complete an internship. As I'm looking for a career in law enforcement I'm set on obtaining an internship at a local agency (within 1-2 hours drive time from Pasadena).

I've researched departments in the area, but aside from LAPD most other departments do not go into detail about internships. LAPD from what I understand only gives internships to CJ majors, which I am not.

If any of you can point me in the right direction or know agencies that offer internships, I'd appreciate the help. If you help me out I'll buy you lunch when I move out there.

Take care,

- B

[CPLHARRISON]

Why do you want to do an internship? If you want to be a Police Officer just apply to be a police officer,.

[Sleet]

It's a requirement for my degree, without it, I cannot graduate.

I can intern wherever I want, but I have been considering a career in law enforcement for a few years now and have no interest obtaining an internship in any other field.

- B

[FJDave]

LASD has a Law Enforcement intern position, but you have to be currently registered with (I think) 12 college units or more in order to qualify.

[avalon42]

It's a requirement for my degree, without it, I cannot graduate.

I can intern wherever I want, but I have been considering a career in law enforcement for a few years now and have no interest obtaining an internship in any other field.

- B

Most schools are flexible on the definition of the internship. I applied to 3 agencies specifically as a Reserve Officer, and my internship coordinator gave me his approval so that it can be used to fulfill the requirement. Your university might be willing to do the same for you if you get hired as a LEO for an agency because you have to do an academy for 6 months. That might count as an "internship". I would articulate that given the economy, internships are a luxury few can afford (as most are non-paid).

There are a ton of state/local agencies that used to offer internships, but have scaled back to budget. You might have better luck applying to a fed level agency for an internship.

[Sleet]

LASD has a Law Enforcement intern position, but you have to be currently registered with (I think) 12 college units or more in order to qualify.

That's good news. LASD is currently at the top of the list of departments I'm interested in working for. I'm assuming by "12 college units" you're referring to credit/hours per semester, which could be a problem since (aside from my internship) I'm done college. But I'll definitely contact a recruiter and see what I can do. Thanks, Dave.

Most schools are flexible on the definition of the internship. I applied to 3 agencies specifically as a Reserve Officer, and my internship coordinator gave me his approval so that it can be used to fulfill the requirement. Your university might be willing to do the same for you if you get hired as a LEO for an agency because you have to do an academy for 6 months. That might count as an "internship". I would articulate that given the economy, internships are a luxury few can afford (as most are non-paid).

There are a ton of state/local agencies that used to offer internships, but have scaled back to budget. You might have better luck applying to a fed level agency for an internship.

That on the other is not so good news. I was banking on internships being easier to get then starting an actual career in law enforcement. I figured internships, being free-labor more or less, would be useful to some agencies. I'm certain that if I were to obtain a sworn position, the academy would most certainly be considered internship material, however I find it unlikely that a department would want me working as an intern (doing homework) while at the academy.

I'm only 21, fresh out of college, moving to a place I know very little about, a place that's been hit harder then most economy wise, and outside of school I have no life experiences. My degree is the only thing I have to lean on, and if I begin to apply to agencies I'm not sure how they'll take to the fact that I've not completely finished my degree.

But you raised a good point, I've sent a letter to my counselor to see what the boundaries are. Thanks, Avalon.

- B

[avalon42]

That on the other is not so good news. I was banking on internships being easier to get then starting an actual career in law enforcement. I figured internships, being free-labor more or less, would be useful to some agencies. I'm certain that if I were to obtain a sworn position, the academy would most certainly be considered internship material, however I find it unlikely that a department would want me working as an intern (doing homework) while at the academy.

I'm only 21, fresh out of college, moving to a place I know very little about, a place that's been hit harder then most economy wise, and outside of school I have no life experiences. My degree is the only thing I have to lean on, and if I begin to apply to agencies I'm not sure how they'll take to the fact that I've not completely finished my degree.

But you raised a good point, I've sent a letter to my counselor to see what the boundaries are. Thanks, Avalon.

- B

Internships are relatively easier to get, but you have to be prepared for the 4-6 months wait for a background. Some agencies will use this background process if you ever move to a full-time sworn position, others will start the process all over again.

I would try and look for a paid Police Cadet position within a department. There is a cut-off on the age, some go as high as 24, some limit their program to 18. I applied for and was offered a Police Cadet position with City of Costa Mesa, which I turned down because I had to move out of area. http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/departments/cmpd/police_cadets.htm

Another thing to consider is that you might have to take a non-LE job to make ends meet. If you can get your foot in the door as a reserve officer, you can work your full-time job and take a modular academy to fulfill your training requirements. That could be an applicable internship experience as well.

[serenade84]

You might be better off just applying to an agency and starting that process. Then in the meantime, do an internship anywhere you can even if it's not an LEO internship.

[mdrdep]

Sleet LASD has a number of student worker positions especially as summer nears, I'll have to see if I can dig you up a bulletin.

[Sleet]

Internships are relatively easier to get, but you have to be prepared for the 4-6 months wait for a background. Some agencies will use this background process if you ever move to a full-time sworn position, others will start the process all over again.

I would try and look for a paid Police Cadet position within a department. There is a cut-off on the age, some go as high as 24, some limit their program to 18. I applied for and was offered a Police Cadet position with City of Costa Mesa, which I turned down because I had to move out of area. http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/departments/cmpd/police_cadets.htm

Another thing to consider is that you might have to take a non-LE job to make ends meet. If you can get your foot in the door as a reserve officer, you can work your full-time job and take a modular academy to fulfill your training requirements. That could be an applicable internship experience as well.

I didn't realize it might take that long. 4-6 months is too long for me unfortunately, as I will need to do 270 hours worth of an internship and that's going to take several weeks at the very least (depending on how much they let me work), which may keep me from getting my degree for another semester. I hadn't even thought of working as a reserve officer, that's something I'll have to look into.

You might be better off just applying to an agency and starting that process. Then in the meantime, do an internship anywhere you can even if it's not an LEO internship.

It looks like I may have to find a non-LEO internship after all. The sooner I can complete my internship, the sooner I can graduate and begin job hunting.

Sleet LASD has a number of student worker positions especially as summer nears, I'll have to see if I can dig you up a bulletin.

That would great. I'd really appreciate that, Mdrdep.

- B