Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

Full-Time Police Officer and Patrol Officer Positions

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The Ferguson Township (Centre County) Police Department will be testing for the position of full-time Police Officer on April 25, 2015.  Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license and have no criminal record.  A high school diploma or equivalent is required; a college degree or substantial college course work is preferred.  Additional requirements, information and applications can be obtained at the Ferguson Township Municipal Building, or at the Township website, www.twp.ferguson.pa.us.  All applications must be returned to the Ferguson Township Administration Office no later than 4:00 PM, Friday, April 17, 2015.  A $25.00 test fee must accompany all applications.  Questions may be directed to the Police Department @ 814-237-1172. More details here.

The South Whitehall Township Civil Service Commission is accepting applications for the position of a patrol officer until 12:00 PM, Friday, May 1, 2015. All applicants shall possess at a minimum, an Associate Degree of not fewer than sixty credit hours from an accredited university. Final appointment shall be contingent upon successful completion of all Police Academy pre-entrance examinations. A $20.00 non-refundable fee is required at the time of filing the application, payable to South Whitehall Township. Applications can be obtained at the South Whitehall Township Police Department and online at www.southwhitehall.com. For more information please visit this website.

Police Patrol Officer – Bethlehem Township, Northampton County

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that formal applications required to be completed in order to apply for the entry-level position of Patrol Officer in the Bethlehem Township Police Department are now available in the office of the Township Manager at the Bethlehem Township Municipal Building, 4225 Easton Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18020-1496. The applications are also available for download on-line at Bethlehem Township’s website (www.bethlehemtownship.org).

This position is governed by the Civil Service Rules and Regulations of Bethlehem Township. Starting salary is contractually set at approximately $55,000.

The applicant, at a minimum:

  1. EITHER-OR REQUIREMENT: Must show proof of EITHER valid Act 120 certification (Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Act), OR successful completion of sixty (60) college credits received from an accredited institution of higher learning:
  2. Must have reached his/her twenty-first (21st) birthday before the deadline for submitting completed applications;
  3. Must be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or become such within thirty (30) days of appointment;
  4. Must possess a high school or general equivalency diploma;
  5. Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and must obtain a valid Pennsylvania motor vehicle operator’s license at time of employment;
  6. Must be a United States citizen;
  7. Must be physically and mentally fit to perform the full duties of a police officer;
  8. Must be able to speak, write, and read the English language;
  9. Must complete an application form, which must include a check or money order (no cash accepted) for $50.00 to cover processing costs. Check should be made payable to “Bethlehem Township”

Applicants who pass all Civil Service tests may be subject to a complete background investigation and polygraph examination by the Bethlehem Township Police Department. Such investigation will cover personal and professional qualifications, to include credit history, license status, drug use, prior arrests, and academic/employment record.

Completed application materials must be received, by mail or in person, in the office of the Township Manager (listed above) no later than the filing deadline of Noon (12 p.m.), Friday, April 10, 2015. Applications received after the filing deadline, or those applications found to be incomplete, will be rejected.

If a candidate’s application is filed before the deadline and is determined to be complete, the candidate will be notified by Bethlehem Township of his/her eligibility to take the written examination portion of the application process.

The written examination will be conducted Saturday, April 25, 2015, at a site and time to be determined. A candidate is eligible to take this examination ONLY if he/she has been notified by Bethlehem Township that his/her application has been determined to be complete.

Ferguson Township Hiring Police Officer

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The written test for the position of Police Officer for Ferguson Township will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 9 AM at the Park Forest Middle School, 2180 School Drive, State College, PA 16803.

Applications are available at the Ferguson Township Municipal Building, 3147 Research Drive, State College, PA 16801, telephone 813.237.1172, or online at www.twp.ferguson.pa.us. Applicants must submit an application to the Ferguson Township Police Department accompanied by a non-refundable, $25.00 application fee by cash, check or money order, no later than 4:00 PM, Friday, April 17th.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age by April 25, 2015, and have at least a high school diploma or equivalent General Education Certificate (GED) at the date of the written test. Minimum standards for hiring are available in the brochure distributed with the application form.

Upon passing the written test, applicants will be scheduled for a video behavioral test and interview. Top candidates will be scheduled for a physical fitness/agility test, and upon successful passage, required to submit additional personal history information, and undergo an extensive background investigation, which may include a polygraph examination, as well as medical and psychological examinations which include drug and alcohol screening.

The starting base salary for new officers for 2015 is $47,132 or $52,368 if Act 120 certified.

The Ferguson Township Police Department anticipates hiring one police officer in 2016; any unforeseen vacancies will also be filled from the eligibility list. Testing is typically conducted every two to three years.

Applicants for the written test should arrive no later than 8:30 AM and photo identification will be required to enter. No one will be permitted to enter the testing facility after 8:45 AM.

Ferguson Township is an Equal Opportunity Employer Women and minorities are encouraged to apply

More infroamtion about this position is available in the Nittany Lion Career Network.

Pottstown Police Department Hiring Police Officers

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Qualifications: Minimum age 18 yrs. Applicants must successfully complete written, oral and physical exams, psychological screening, drug & alcohol testing, polygraph exam & a thorough background investigation. Pay Rate $25.40/ hour plus Full Benefits Pkg.

Applications: Visit our website at www.pottstown.org or in person:

Human Resources, 100 E. High Street, 3rd Floor, Pottstown, PA 19464.

All applications must be returned by 4 Pl\11, March 11, 2015 along with a non-refundable $35 adminfee.

Full-time Posting: Police Officer – Borough of North Catasauqua Pennsylvania

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The Borough of North Catasauqua Pennsylvania is seeking applicants for entry level police officer. This Is a civil service category governed by applicable laws, ord1nances and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Borough of North Catasauqua. The borough of North Catasauqua offers an excellent fringe benefit package, including medical coverage, life insurance, paid vacation, paid holidays and a starting sa1ary of $22.16 per hour for 2016.

There will be a fifty dollar ($50.00) non-refundable application fee paid by cashier’s check or money order at the time of application. Applications and all necessary forms may be obtained at the North Catasauqua Municipal Building, Hl66 Fourth Street North Catasauqua, PA. Completed forms must be returned to the North Catasauqua Municipal Building during normal business hours of 8:ooam to 4:00pm. Deadline for completed applications is Friday, March 20, 2015 at -4:00pm.

The written and physical agility testing will be conducted on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Valid photo identification (i.e.: driver’s license) will be required for admission to the tests. Only those who have submitted a completed application along with the application fee by the deadline will be allowed admittance.

To apply for a position as a police officer, a person must be a citizen of the United State, must be at least 21 years of age, must be a high school graduate or possess a General Equivalency Diploma (GEDL must possess a valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License or MUST BE ACT 120 CERTIFIED end maintain said certification. Successful applicants must pass the written examination, physical agility examination, oral interview, psychological examination, background investigation and medical examination including drug testing. The successful applicants must be domiciled and make their principal place of residence within a ten (10) mile radius within three (3) months completing their twelve (12) month probationary period set for in Section 304 and 505 of the North Catasauqua Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations, which is available at the Municipal Building for review. Execution of the Residency Letter of intent will be required when hired.

Lessons Learned from My Summer Internship

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As a college student you always hear your peers, parents, professors, and advisers talk about getting experience in the career field of a possible future job. This experience could be in the form of an internship, a research project, or a studying abroad program. Before I started school I knew I wanted to participate in several internships, but I didn’t really know how or where to get started. When I got to school I started talking to my professors and advisers, asking their advice about finding appropriate internships and the proper ways to connect with internship sites.

I started networking and talking to different workers of agencies, like police departments and federal agencies. My first real internship dealing with my Crime, Law & Justice major was with the PG Police Department last summer. I think doing an internship really helps you focus on a potential career path. It opened my eyes to goals that I should set for myself, whether or not I decide to go into policing. Also, I have been told numerous times that an internship experience looks good on your resume when you go to apply for jobs after graduation. From my own personal experience, I can say that this is quite true. When I went to my interview for the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute, the interviewers were impressed with my previous internship experiences.

As a Crime, Law & Justice student, I think the most important things to accomplish before you graduate are: completing an internship, networking with agencies, making a list of short and long-term goals, and enjoying your college life. My college experience at Penn State has been positively shaped by each of these goals. I knew going into my internship that I would learn a great deal about careers in the police force. But I was also able to learn valuable life lessons. Indeed, the most important lesson I took away from my internship was if you treat everyone with respect, they will treat you with respect in return. I can honestly say that participating in an internship really helps better yourself professionally and personally. This year, I will leave my summer internship with a greater understanding of my career aspirations, and with a new family.

When you consider doing an internship as an undergraduate, you should talk to your adviser, network with the agency you want to intern with, do some background research, and just prepare yourself mentally. Completing an internship will open your eyes to so many things and may even lead you to change your mind about a possible future career.

Our Day Begins When Yours Ends

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There is really no such thing as a “typical day” at the police department. Each new day is different from the last. One week I can be really busy doing clerical work and the next I could be out riding along with a patrol officer. My internship is very unpredictable, which is also why I enjoy and appreciate it so much. It keeps me looking forward to the weeks ahead of me.

In this blog post, I am going to talk about my two most memorable internship experiences so far this summer. My first memorable moment was being taken to see an autopsy. Yes, an AUTOPSY. It was a couple weeks ago when Sgt. Fulginiti and I drove up to Baltimore so he could get me in the Medical Examiners Office to witness how autopsies are performed. At first during the ride there, I was pretty nervous because I didn’t know what to really expect. All I’ve heard were stories of students and people passing out while observing an autopsy.

When we arrived, we made our way to the 2nd floor and my adrenaline started rushing. We walked off the elevator into a white hallway filled with doors. We walked through two huge white doors and up steps into a viewing area. Through the viewing glass, you looked down into a huge room. The room had eight stations, with all these different tools so that different autopsies could be performed at the same time.

I basically saw how autopsies operate on three different levels. I observed the pre- and post-autopsy procedures, as well as an autopsy in progress. It was just amazing to see the inside of a human body and how carefully the doctors take out the organs and examine each part. I witnessed how they remove specific organs, like the brain, and exam each through a variety of procedures and processes. In the end, seeing an autopsy was one of the best experiences I ever had in my life and as a student. It also kind of gave me the idea of looking into becoming a medical examiner.

The other memorable experience I have had while interning with the police department would have to be when I sat in on a federal trial. In this trial the defendant was being charged federally of a series of crimes, in addition to the murder charges. In fact, the defendant could face up to life in prison just for the federal crimes committed, not including the murders. This courtroom experience was amazing to observe. I think getting this experience was a breath of fresh air because I usually only see the events leading up to a trial, and not what actually goes on after all the investigations have been completed.

I am greatly appreciative for all that I have been able to experience in my internship. I have observed and experienced a lot of things that my peers are not able to. I told myself everyday: push yourself outside the box and do new things. This mindset helped to make my internship experience even more rewarding.

Police Work: Back in Palmer Park

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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.

Dauphin County CID/ATF Arson K-9 and Crisis Response Team

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The work of the Dauphin County CID Detectives is as diverse as the suspects that they investigate. As an intern I have the fortunate benefit of being able to experience an array of criminal cases that happen in county. Thumbnail image for K-9_Loki.JPG

For example, a suspected arson in the Harrisburg area of the previous summer had come to trial this past week. The Detective that was working the case shared the details of the case with me in order to brief me as to how the trail was expected to proceed. Through a joint operation of County and Federal authorities, evidence was produced that gave the District Attorney enough confidence to press a case against a suspect. Over a week of court the defendant was not found guilty. However, I had witnessed the process of transfer of information form the Detectives that had investigated the case, the formation of a case against the defendant by the DA, and the entire process of the court system from jury selection to verdict. Although not a victory for the Dauphin County DA, it was for the Fire Investigation Detective and his ATF K9. The ATF often works in joint operation with one of the CID Detectives in order to isolate the cause of many of the counties suspected arsons. The fire investigator, along with his trained K9 is dispatched throughout the county and even nation wide to determine the source of suspected arsons. If the K9 alerts to a suspected accelerant that was used in setting the fire, evidence will be collected for lab analysis and may be used as evidence. crisis-response-teamjpg-961c62370784be16_large.jpg

During that same week, I had observed the tactics of the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team in training. In the event that a county emergency should occur such as a hostage situation, a terrorist threat, major civil unrest (such as a riot) as well as other special operations such as anti-narcotic raids, the CRT is on call 24/7, 365 to handle such situations. The CRT keeps active in their training by running drills regularly at different locations preparing for different kinds of situational emergencies. One day may be hostage rescue; another may be raid of a major drug location. As with other aspects of county policing, the Dauphin County CRT often shares jurisdiction with other agencies in a joint task force. The CRT was formed in 1992 for the need the have a local emergency response team at the ready for hostile situations. Before this time if a department needed help from a tactical team, they’d have to call the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team. Being that this team was composed of state police spread out across the eastern end of the state, a need developed for a local emergency response team. Some members would have to travel two or more hours to get to an incident, whereas all of the members of the CRT reside in county.

-Travis R. Stotelmyer, Intern, Dauphin County CID

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