Benjamin Leuzinger

I am a senior at UW-Madison and I will be graduating in December 2015 with a major in Legal Studies and a Criminal Justice certificate. I would like to eventually continue my education and receive a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security/Emergency Management. Ideally, I would like to work for the federal government conducting criminal investigations.

I completed my summer internship with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. This summer has been an eye-opening experience to the vast world of the criminal justice system. I have been blessed with amazing opportunities this summer and I have been given responsibilities at the Department of Justice that I never imagined I would be given as an intern. I have had the chance to assist special agents in cases involving crimes against children, drug trafficking, human trafficking, arson, and officer-involved shootings.

I have been able to assist in conducting surveillance, executing search warrants, assisting in report writing, analyzing and packaging evidence, assist and observe interviews of witnesses, observe some aspects of narcotic investigations, and much more. The opportunities were endless and I cannot be more satisfied with the experience that I was given at the Division of Criminal Investigation. It was an awesome feeling when I was able to apply knowledge from classes at UW-Madison into the real world experiences at the Department of Justice.

I would like to thank the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation- Milwaukee field office for providing me with the great opportunity. Every day was new and refreshing and kept me on my toes. I learned that I really enjoyed the everyday challenges and the sporadic events that occurred during those times. Working with a professional staff of special agents has only furthered my interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement and criminal investigations.

I want to sincerely thank the Family of Audrey J. Harris for their generous gift. Not only has the gift lifted the financial burden of the internship cost, it has also allowed me to focus on the experience and take in the amazing opportunity that I have been given. I am hoping to use this internship experience as a stepping-stone to employment with a local or federal law enforcement agency. Once again, I am very honored to have received this award and thank you for your generosity and contribution to the criminal justice program. ON WISCONSIN!