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Meggan Quinn (junior, Crime, Law, and Justice) needed to be assertive to obtain the internship she wanted. Although picking up the phone and asking if organizations offer job shadowing or internships can be intimidating for many students, Meggan just saw it as something she needed to do if she wanted to gain supplementary experience with the justice system outside of the classroom. So, she picked up the phone and began calling around. Though she received a few “no’s” when asking if she could do a ride-along with an officer, she eventually received a “yes” from the Ferguson Township Police Department.

Not only was Meggan able to ride along with an officer for a day during the spring 2008 semester, but that officer was a sergeant. He was so impressed with Meggan’s professional attitude and genuine interest that he offered her an internship for the summer of 2008. Though the internship was unpaid, Meggan did receive three course credits for her 150 hours of work. That work included working unusual hours, often between the hours of 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

Because the officers wanted Meggan to gain as much experience as possible, she was able to get out of the car during traffic stops. They also set up a DUI checkpoint on Atherton Road, during which Meggan helped conduct sobriety tests, getting real hands-on experience. Meggan really felt like an integral part of the department. The officers quickly made Meggan feel at home, as they joked with her about her status as a Lady Lion basketball player. They told her if a suspect ran, they would let her chase after the person first. The only time she was not able to shadow the officers so closely was during warrant service, as that can be a very risky job.

Meggan’s experience with Ferguson Township Police Department reinforced her goal to go into law enforcement rather than going to law school, going into corrections, or trying to get a job with an agency like the FBI, as many of her fellow students do. When she graduates, she plans on moving back home to York, PA, to hopefully work for the police department there. Meggan has already begun her testing to work for the department and will have to go to the police academy for six months after she graduates to be qualified for this work.

Meggan suggests that Penn State students looking into a career with a Pennsylvania police department take CRIM 100. It introduces students to the background of laws and familiarizes them with the laws in Pennsylvania. She also advises students to be assertive and take the initiative to call and ask different departments if they offer ride-alongs and internships.

To find out about internship possibilities through the Crime, Law, and Justice Department, visit their Web site or contact CLJ Lecturer and Internship Coordinator Kim Menard at kmm157@psu.edu. To learn more about Meggan’s experience, you may contact her at mjq5004@psu.edu. For more information on the Ferguson Township Police Department, visit their Web site.