Internship

Program Overview

The Normal Police Department (NPD) is proud to join efforts with area universities to extend the privilege of internship experiences. The NPD Internship Program is dynamic, offering some of the best experience and training available. 

Interns:

• are exposed to a vast array of areas within the Police Department.
• receive hands-on experience in the areas of patrol techniques, criminal investigations, identification and records procedures and victim assistance. 
• mostly observe, but train and work as well. Internships typically comprise 80% observation and 20% actual work. Observation experiences include a wide variety of police work (e.g., joining detectives at autopsies).
• are given work assignments which may include tabulating citizen survey results, creating monthly expenditure reports and performing computer searches for suspects.
• will have the opportunity to compare and contrast academic instruction with real-life situations.

While NPD intends to provide a rich, rewarding and comprehensive learning experience, exact experiences cannot be guaranteed due to the cyclical nature of police activities and the unpredictability of criminal activity. NPD intends to provide opportunities  to participate and observe day-to-day operations of a law enforcement agency. 

Internship Objectives

The objectives of the internship reflect the "worker-in-training" role. From the day an intern enters the department, they are expected to assume many of the role requirements of a regular staff member. The role requirements include:

1. Adhering to agency work hours, agency policies, procedures and rules governing professional staff behavior
2. Adhering to agency policies governing the strict observance of confidentiality and the handling of confidential information
3. Assuming responsibility for their actions and activities.
4. Maintaining strictly professional relationships with all clients.
5. Being a courteous learner using an enthusiastic, open minded, critical approach to facts, fallacies or fantasies.
6. Relating and using knowledge acquired in the classroom to practice in the department.
7. Assuming a positive attitude and proper maturity.
8. Developing self-awareness regarding attitudes, values and behavior.
9. Preparing for and using various opportunities for learning (e.g., conferences and internal workshops, etc. ).

The student is placed in our department for one full semester, receiving college credits but serves under the authority of our department and must abide by our general rules and regulations. Ideally, at the end of the internship, the student should have acquired a basic working knowledge of the entire spectrum of functions performed.

Internship Selection Criteria

Intern selection is competitive due to the limited number of available positions, generally two to three per semester. Selection criteria typically include seven major areas:

1. Application -  Submit an  online NPD Internship application to the Normal Police Department.  Include a resume and cover letter.
2. Education - minimum grade point average of 2.5/4.0 is required to be eligible 
3. Prior Work Experience / Extracurricular Activities / Special Skills
4. Polygraph Screening/Examination 
5. Oral Interview - evaluation of personal appearance, demeanor, communication skills and level of interest
6. Personal References - verification of good moral character and fitness for position
7. Background Check - review of past criminal history and driving record

Application Procedure 

Applicants should first contact their university internship coordinator to ensure all university requirements have been met and they are in fact eligible for an internship program. Initial contact with the Normal Police Department should be through the university internship coordinator. A letter from the university internship coordinator indicating student eligibility is necessary. The Normal Police Department encourages students to strictly adhere to university procedures.

Each student is required to submit an NPD Internship application to the Normal Police Department.  Students must include a resume and/or cover letter with their application. 

Deadlines for the application process

Fall Semester

• April 1 - applications due
• May 1 - announcements made

Spring Semester

• October 1 - applications due
• November 1 - announcements made

Summer Semester:

• March 1 - applications due
• April 1 - announcements made

Payment

Interns receive no monetary compensation for participation. All students are responsible their own tuition and expenses.

Program Schedule

Interns shall receive a tentative schedule describing work hours and assignments. An example for a Spring/Fall Semester Schedule is shown in the following table. Summer Semester Schedules may be abbreviated. Our Department attempts to accommodate variations of this schedule for each student's individual preferences and requirements. 

Example of Spring/Fall Schedule:

The table below provides a summary of the typical schedule during spring and fall semesters. Candidates are encourages to learn more about the areas within the Normal Police Department.