Students from Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) participated in the first day of their externship with the Division of Public Safety and Security on Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Michigan football game.
The students learned about DPSS and received an introduction to high-level game day operations.
This is the first time DPSS has collaborated with a community college to offer an externship program to criminal justice students.
The students participating in the externship are currently enrolled in the WCCCD’S Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Administration Associate degree program. The program intends to give the students exposure to the public safety field.
“We hope the experience will have a lasting impact on the students and maybe even inspire some of them to one day enter the law enforcement field,” said DPSS Executive Director Eddie L. Washington, Jr.
In addition to learning about game day operations, the students will attend workshops and gain field experience with DPSS police and security departments.
“We are excited about this unique opportunity,” said James Jackson, director of the WCCCD Criminal Justice program. “The students in the program will have an opportunity to work alongside law enforcement and security professionals, all while earning credit hours towards their program.”
The externship program is one of the Division’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and will conclude at the end of the fall semester.