Law Enforcement Student Interns with St. Louis County Police Department

College of Health and Human Services (Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology)

Southeast Missouri State University criminal justice major Daniella Brand is interning with the St. Louis County Police Department.

The St. Louis native rides with the officers in each precinct as well as both sections of the Crime Scene Unit and Prisoner Conveyance Unit. She also works in the Crime Lab, the Fingerprint Unit, the Metro Air Support Unit, the Bureau of Communications, the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy, the Planning and Analysis Unit, and the Personnel Services Unit. She is learning to use car computers and radios, write reports, evaluate crime scenes, and process and test evidence.

“I am really learning and seeing a lot, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I would highly recommend an internship with the place that you are thinking about applying to so you really understand how it works,” she said.

Daniella said the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology at Southeast has successfully helped prepared her for a future in law enforcement.

“I went into my internship with a great base knowledge. The teachers take time to get to know their students, making me feel less like a number and more like an actual part of the classroom and school,” she said.
Daniella said she has many fond memories of her time at the University.

“First would have to be move-in day, because of everyone participating,” she said. “Everyone made sure to make me feel welcome and really started my experience off on the right foot. Second was Family Weekend, simply because my family got to visit, and there were plenty of activities to keep us busy during the day and a photo to remember it all by. Third was Magical Muggle Harry Potter Night, and while I was sorted into the wrong house, I still had a blast playing the games and discussing Harry Potter with fellow ‘wizarding world’ fans. Fourth was Criminal Justice Day, because I was able to talk to different agencies and learn about their hiring processes and daily activities.”

Daniella’s favorite things to do in Cape Girardeau are walking downtown to visit antique shops and stopping for lunch at Buckner Brewing Co. She also enjoys bowling, reading, softball, videogames and photography.

“Photography is my stress reliever, because when I pick up my camera, I see things in a different way. I constantly find myself thinking of different ways to take a picture of someone or something,” she said.

Daniella said she also loves to travel.

“My favorite travel destination is Washington, D.C., because of all this history and sacrifice and power in one place,” she said.

She has been there twice, once with her elementary school and once with her youth group, Job’s Daughters, and hopes to visit again soon. She also wants to visit Germany, which she toured with her high school class.

Daniella encourages future Southeast students, “Get involved, whether it is in the classroom or an extracurricular activity, because you will really feel like you have become a part of something instead of just moving through the paces of school.”