Staff Photo by Tim Barber
Northwestern Technical College criminal justice student Kelly Huskey, standing left, watches CPL Zoa Millsaps as she works at her computer in booking at the Walker County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday. Officer Sandra Battles, top right, enters the room from the sally port.
Kelly Huskey plans to work in probation when she graduates from Northwestern Technical College, but chose a summer internship at the Walker County Sheriff's Office to learn about other aspects of the justice system.
"I worked in the jail one day, got to inspect cells, went to court, rode with an officer," she said of her first two weeks in the 90-hour program.
Ms. Huskey and area college students can work unpaid internships with the criminal justice office of their choice in exchange for course credit toward a degree.
Chris Cuffee, a senior criminal justice major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, chose the Chattanooga Police Department because that's where he'd like to work after he graduates.
"I think that if (students) are pursuing a career in law enforcement then this kind of experience is invaluable," Mr. Cuffee said. After the internship and some coursework, Mr. Cuffee expects to graduate from UTC in August.
If the police department is hiring, he's going to apply, he said.
Dr. Tammy Garland, UTC's internship coordinator and a professor who teaches about juvenile delinquency, said student interns get a real taste of what they'll likely do in their day-to-day jobs.
"There's the textbook version of what happens, and then there's a reality version of what happens," Dr. Garland said. "Some realize. 'This isn't as cool as I thought it was.'"
At UTC students can choose a 135-hour internship for three credit hours or double the time for six credits.
As part of the credit requirement, interns have to write a 10-page paper on their experience.
Chattanooga police interns start the summer doing two weeks of ride-alongs in all the city's zones, said Lt. David Streip.
Later in the summer Lt. Streip has plans for the interns to observe detectives, work with traffic officers and see special operations such as the K-9 units and SWAT teams.
"They see everything we have here," the lieutenant said. "I don't want them to just do busy work."
The department has three interns this summer.
Walker County Detective Lt. Burt Cagle said Ms. Huskey also will work in each of the sheriff's area of responsibilities.
"Patrol is the most exciting place to be," Lt. Cagle said. "We try to put them into each department."
Ginni Herron is an East Tennessee State University criminal justice major working with the Athens, Tenn., Police Department this summer. She's done ride-alongs with federal law enforcement before and decided to see how local police work through this internship.
Each day her supervisor sends her to different meetings from patrol to investigations and even court cases.
"I have no clue what the rest of the summer has in store for me," she said.
