Georgiana Willems
Intern, Maryland State Police
Major: CCJS
Class Year: 2023
What was a typical week like in your internship position?
Maryland State Troopers work on a rotating schedule. MSP works 5 early shifts from 0600-1600 and then has 3 days off. Then they work 5 late shifts from 1400-0000 and have 3 days off. Lastly, they work 5-night shifts from 2300-0700 and have 6 days off. The shift makes all the difference. For example, a typical week of early shift would be going to the barrack at 0600, going out on the road with one of the troopers on the group I am assigned to, and starting the day. Frederick is a full-service barrack so we could go make traffic stops, respond to calls for service, etc. Late shift is similar and tends to be busy as well with rush hour. The night shift is either dead or busy depending on if it is a weeknight or day.
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
I loved how real the Troopers were about their jobs and how they treated me. I was able to learn so much about MSP while building strong ties for the future. I was fortunate to ride with multiple people, see how different people handle the job, and explore different careers field within MSP. I loved the environment of this internship as well. This internship was never boring because you never knew what call you were going to respond to.
How did your coursework help you in your internship?
My previous coursework has helped me immensely. For example, I've gone to court with a few of the Troopers and I'd say my Courts and Sentencing class allowed me to have a better understanding of what was going on. I also have foundational knowledge about simple things such as traffic stops, searches, arrests, and so forth.
How did you locate your internship position?
I filled out a google form found directly on the Maryland State Police website. I was then contacted by Cpl. Freysz with MSP and was invited to an orientation.
Advice for students:
My best advice would be what you put in is what you get out. This internship was very flexible so I could come in whenever I wanted to. With that, it's easy to push it off and not go. I recommend doing as much as you can and gaining experience. I absolutely loved this internship and would recommend it to anyone interested in law enforcement.
