Ever since I was little I wanted to be a forensic scientist or homicide detective. I was always somewhere “dissecting” bugs or trying to solve some mystery. As I got older, I began networking with different police officers and one gave me information about interning with the Prince Georges County Police Dpt., Criminal Investigations Division in Palmer Park, MD (headquarters). The very moment I got that information, I jumped at the chance to have an experience that would open my eyes to many things.
Before I get into any further details about my internship, let me first introduce myself. My name is Tierra Briscoe. This upcoming Fall I will be a senior at The Pennsylvania State University majoring in Crime, Law, and Justice (Pre-Forensics) with a minor in Sociology. I am from PG County, MD, where I live with my mother and little brother, who will be a freshman in college this fall. As the older sibling I try my best to set an example for my little brother to show him that all it takes is motivation to get where you want to go in life.
After I graduate, my goal is to either go into federal policing such as US Marshals or start out as a patrol officer for the county police and work my way up. Either way, I will be doing something I love and have a passion for.
I interned with the PGCPD last summer also, it was my first time but I enjoyed it soo much! After I got the information from an officer I met during an outing with my friends, he gave me the number to the internship coordinator here at the headquarters. I had to keep in touch with the coordinator constantly so she wouldn’t forget who I was and to make sure I got a spot because there are a lot of students who apply for these internships. I finally got an interview and nailed it. I basically got the internship the same day and was placed in the Homicide/Cold Case Unit.
My first summer here was filled with going to multiple death scenes, where I helped…yes “helped” move the bodies into the body bags. The only one I didn’t touch was the man that was decomposed. If you thought you’ve smelled the worst thing ever, you have never smelled a decomposing body. I was never nervous to do these tasks or go out on rides because I wanted to show I was dedicated and willing to get down and dirty. But, there were still a lot of things I wanted to accomplish last summer that I didn’t get to.
I think the fact that I was willing to do so much work and step up to the plate when they expected me to fold and get scared, made them want to ask me to come back another summer – which is where we are now, a new summer. I feel as though this says a lot about me. My internship isn’t paid but the hands-on experience I am getting is paying me in a whole different way.
I am looking forward to giving more insight about my internship experience through my eyes. Feel free to contact me if there are any questions or comments about my internship with the Police Department.