Inside the badge: High school students get hands-on experience at SJPD  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- Four high school interns from the Northland Career Center are joining the St. Joseph Police Department for the semester. 

According to Sgt. Court Protzman, this is the first time the department has offered an internship program specifically for high school students. 

“We haven’t done anything with high schoolers for an internship before. We had this opportunity when Chief Luster used his connections in Kansas City to help us bring this program,” Protzman said.  

The goal is to give students a real look at what law enforcement is actually like. Instead of staying in one area, the interns rotate through different divisions each week — from patrol to records to electronic crimes — so they can see how every part of the department works together.  

Kylee Frans said she’s already learned more than she expected.  

"I wanted to gain the real-world experiences and see if I actually enjoy it and want to pursue a career in it because you can only get so much out of an actual program that’s education-based rather than being in a real-world scenario,” Frans said.  

She admitted she wasn’t sure at first whether she would accept the opportunity.  

But in the end, she decided it was better to try — that way she’d know for sure if it was the right path for her. 

Grace Marier said her interest in law enforcement started early.  

“Ever since I was five, my dad just kind of inspired me to join him in police service, so it's always been a part of my life,” Marier said.  

So far, she described the experience as eye-opening. She’s seen the good, the bad and the challenging parts of the profession.  

Thomas Waller learned about the internship from Officer Erica Hopper, an instructor at Northland Career Center, and immediately felt drawn to it.  

“We come in around 11:15, and every other week we get to be a part of a different division. Like this week I am in records, and last week I was in Patrol and next week I am supposed to be in electronic crimes,” Waller said.  

For Waller, the biggest takeaway is the experience itself — along with the chance to meet officers, build connections and learn directly from professionals in the field. 

Samantha Dodson had a slightly different journey. She was hesitant at first due to other complications in her life. 

“I was eventually convinced by my own mom when she found out that I had been given the offer to come down to St. Joseph Police Department and said, 'Why aren’t you going?'” Dodson said.  

Now, her favorite part has been watching how everyone works together.  

The interns were selected through an interview process at Northland Career Center before being recommended to the department. 

Sgt. Protzman said the hope is to keep the program going and expand it in the future, giving more young people the opportunity to explore careers in law enforcement early on.