From Forensics Class to Internship with the Arlington Heights Police

For starters, he just wrapped up a summer internship with the Arlington Heights Police Department. At the same time, he continued his role as captain with the Hoffman Estates Police Cadets and he worked as an ordinance compliance agent with the Schaumburg Police Department. 

 

All of these opportunities combined to give him an inside view of local law enforcement, but his grounding in crime scene investigation came from the Forensics course he took last year.

 

Seth was among the first students to sign up for the Forensics class, which was offered as a science elective last year. The class proved to be so popular, it was offered again during second semester and is available this year as a one-semester or full-year course.

 

The hands-on class integrates CSI-like problem solving, including using the seven steps (7 Ss) of a crime scene investigation, as well as a variety of science and math applications. Last year, the class drew several visits from the Arlington Heights Police Department and some of its officers who work in forensics, and even FBI analysts who worked in evidence response.

 

Arlington Heights police officers suggested that interested students apply for the department’s summer internship and Seth was selected.

 

In his two years with the Police Cadets in Hoffman Estates, Seth already had trained in traffic and crowd control, particularly at community events, but the Arlington Heights internship offered him a broad overview of policing.

 

“During my internship on Tuesday evenings I assisted the community relations division officer in presenting the Adult Citizens Police Academy,” Seth says. “I also spent time with the records division, in which they showed me how they handle all police records -- they even still have some records from the Tylenol murders.” 

His internship introduced him to reviewing officer body camera video, as well as working with the public service officers who staff the front desk.

“I learned how they handle the public who come into the police station to make a report or to seek information,” Seth adds.

Overall, he believes the summer internship will give him a leg up when he begins his criminal justice course work.

“My favorite part of the internship was meeting new people,” Seth says, “and making new professional connections.”

His teacher, Mrs. Jen Ruege, agrees: “The internship is such a great thing for students to be able to use on their resume and also see if this is the avenue they want to pursue.”