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Baltimore Police Department Launches Internship Program with Historically Black Universities

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Baltimore Police Department, in a bid to strengthen community trust and recruit more officers, has launched an internship program in partnership with Coppin State and Morgan State universities. Eight students and recent graduates from these historically Black institutions began the 10-week pilot program this month, which aims to expose participants to all aspects of police work, including ongoing reform efforts. The internship, sponsored by the Police Executive Research Forum, provides a $10,000 stipend to each intern and offers a unique opportunity for them to explore a career in law enforcement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The internship program is a nationwide initiative by the Police Executive Research Forum, which plans to use it as a model for future programs.
  • The program focuses on exposing participants to all aspects of police work, including complexities and ongoing reform efforts.
  • The interns will spend time with officers in various roles, such as street patrol, administration, technology, and data analytics, training, budgeting, special investigations, and forensics.
  • Each intern will complete a capstone project, including a written and oral report, on a certain function of the department.
  • The program aims to rebuild public trust and is particularly focused on engaging with minority communities.
  • Efforts by the Baltimore Police Department to implement reform are ongoing, despite pushback from some officers who oppose certain changes.
  • The department faces significant challenges, including rampant gun violence, deepening employee shortages, and obstacles in hiring numbers.
  • Recent surveys show a staffing decrease among law enforcement agencies nationwide due to difficulty recruiting rookies and increased retirements and resignations.

Statistics:

  • The Police Executive Research Forum has sponsored an internship program for eight students and recent graduates from Coppin State and Morgan State universities.
  • The internship provides a $10,000 stipend to each participant over a 10-week period.
  • A recent quarterly hearing on the 2016 consent decree reported significant progress, but expressed concerns about sluggish hiring numbers for the Baltimore Police Department.
  • The Police Executive Research Forum has conducted surveys that show a staffing decrease among law enforcement agencies nationwide.
  • The same surveys found that the largest agencies are suffering the biggest staffing shortages.

Sources:

  • Baltimore Sun
  • Police Executive Research Forum
  • Coppin State University
  • Morgan State University
  • Justice Department probe (2017)
  • U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • University representatives: Anthony Jenkins (Coppin State President), David Wilson (Morgan State President), Col. Sheree Briscoe (Deputy City Police Commissioner)
  • "Nationwide Press Release" by The Police Executive Research Forum (Publication not specified)
  • Justice Department Probe (2016 Consent Decree)

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