Police Internship Program

Borough of State College; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

The Borough of State College is offering a Police Internship Program for Fall 2026, roughly Sept 7 through Dec 7, 2026, with some flexibility. Pay rate is $16.00 per hour.

The program aims to provide participants with an experience similar to that of an entry-level police officer. Interns will observe patrol duties—incident response, investigations, training, warrants, arrests, and courtroom testimony—and may assist detectives in investigations.

Qualifications

• Must be a current student enrolled and attending at least a two- or four-year accredited school or university.
• Must be a United States citizen.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• No felonies or disqualifying offenses as described.
• GPA of 2.5 or higher or in good academic standing.

Responsibilities

• Observe and familiarize with patrol officer duties including incident response, investigations, training, warrant service, arrest, and courtroom testimony.
• Assist in tasks mirroring officer responsibilities to gain real-life policing experience.
• Exposure to criminal investigations and community relations activities.

Education

Current student enrolled and attending at least a two- or four-year accredited school or university

Job description

Police Internship Program - Fall 2026 (Approximately Sept 7 through December 7, 2026, with some flexibility). Pay Rate: $16.00 per hour.

The purpose of this internship is to provide participants with a similar experience to that of an entry level police officer. Interns will be introduced and familiarized to the various components of law enforcement and their specific roles in the criminal justice system. The internship will focus primarily on the duties and tasks of patrol officers with a supplemental exposure to criminal investigations and community relations.

Interns will directly observe the daily activities carried out by patrol officers such as incident response, investigation, training, warrant service, arrest, and courtroom testimony. Daily tasks and duties will be assigned to interns that mimic the responsibilities of the officers they observe, providing real life experience in the field. All tasks and assignments are designed to help create a foundation for those interested in a career in the law enforcement profession, specifically policing.

Interns will be provided with the opportunity to work in criminal investigations where they may be assigned tasks to assist detectives with ongoing investigations. Interns will also be introduced to the community relations aspect of law enforcement and the importance of building trust with those the police serve.

Minimum Requirements

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and United States citizens.
• Applicants must have a valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• Applicants should not have been convicted of, pleading guilty to, or entered a plea of nolo contendre to any felony charge, or to any violations of any federal or state laws relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, or controlled substances.
• Misdemeanor charges may be reason for dismissal from the application process and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Summary charges (non-traffic and traffic offenses) may also be reason for dismissal from the application process and must be reported. These violations will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• No illegal use/abuse of controlled substances
• Must be a current student enrolled and attending at least a two- or four- year accredited school or university.
• Must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher (or otherwise be in good academic standing)
• Must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement and consent to a criminal background check.
• Must be in compliance of the vaccination policy upon conditional offer and prior to start of the internship.
• If applicable, honorable discharge from Military Service.

The deadline to apply for the police internship program is August 14, 2026. E.O.E.