Criminology Major Interns With Tampa Police

Ethan Lehr '24 spent the summer interning with the Tampa Police Department. A senior double majoring in criminology/criminal justice and applied sociology, he is also participating in UT's 4 +1 program, where he will earn his graduate degree in criminology when he finishes school this spring.

We asked him about his role and his day-to-day duties, what he wants to do after graduation and advice for other students.

Criminology Major Interns With Tampa Police Ethan Lehr is a senior double majoring in criminology/criminal justice and applied sociology. Photo courtesy of Ethan Lehr

What is your role at TPD?

At the Tampa Police Department, my role was as a citizen observer. I would respond to calls with officers and see how situations were dealt with.

Why did you want to work with this organization?

I wanted to work with Tampa PD because they were a local agency and I wanted to make connections early on so I would have better job opportunities. I also wanted to explore this side of law enforcement, and I felt that a city such as Tampa would be a great place to do this.

How did you land this internship? What specific steps did you take?

I found out about this internship through Professor (Gabriel) Paez and the criminology department. There was a three-part application process for this internship. First, I had to fill out an initial interest form with some general questions. Next, I had to fill out a 41-page application packet and pass a background check. I then received a call to schedule a formal interview at the department headquarters. Finally, I had my interview and found out soon after that I was selected to receive an internship position with the Tampa Police Department.

What does your day-to-day look like?

Every day I had was different. I would go to the district headquarters where a patrol officer would pick me up. We would then go out on the streets and respond to various calls. I rode during day, evening, and night shifts and calls during each shift were always different.

What do you want to do after graduation?

After graduation, I plan on applying for the police academy and joining the Tampa Police Department.

What is the most rewarding part of the internship?

The most rewarding part of the internship was the satisfaction of helping people and when people would thank us, even for the smallest acts.

Any challenges?

Some of the things that I had to see were challenging to see. It was also a challenge to get through to some people when we were trying to help them.

What do you look forward to about this upcoming semester?

This upcoming semester, I am looking forward to seeing everyone again and starting my graduate classes.

Advice to any students who may want to follow your path?

I would say don’t be afraid to explore different paths. Criminal justice is a huge field and law enforcement is only one part of it. I would also highly recommend applying for internships, even if they aren’t paid because the experience is something that will be beneficial in the long run.

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