Brian Victor

Majors: Economics, Political Science, and Legal Studies with a certificate in Criminal Justice

Goals: To begin a career as a police officer, and eventually go to law school and become a prosecutor

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with the Madison Police Department. From the beginning, I knew that this was going to be a very insightful experience. I quickly learned that every day is different in the world of law enforcement; officers and civilian staff members must be prepared to deal with any situation that may occur. My main duties were with the records and technology divisions of the police department. Through my work for the records division, I learned about the entire process of writing a police report, as well as what these reports must include and what happens to these reports once they are completed. My work for the technology division helped me learn about the many different types of equipment that are essential for police officers. In addition to my main duties, I also had a chance to observe nearly every aspect of the police department. I had several ride-alongs with patrol officers, I helped collect and document evidence from many different cases, I assisted one of the community policing teams with their daily tasks, I assisted the traffic enforcement team with catching dangerous drivers, I attended an officer advisory committee meeting, and I had many other experiences. Overall, this has been an incredible experience, and one that will always have an impact on me.

I have always had an aspiration to attend law school and become a prosecutor. However, I have also wanted to begin a career in the criminal justice field, before attending law school. I have always considered becoming a police officer, but this internship has convinced me that being a police officer is the perfect career path for me. It has helped me understand the exceptional duties that officers must perform, as well as the intense training that officers must undergo. Although these duties are difficult, and the training is intense, I feel that I am prepared for this career path. My ultimate goal still remains to become a prosecutor, but I have realized that starting off as a police officer, before going to law school, is the best option for me.

I would like to thank the family of Audrey J. Harris for their generous scholarship which helped fund this incredible experience. Without their generous contribution, this experience may have not become a reality. I am honored to receive this scholarship, and I promise that I will use the experiences and skills that I have acquired to improve the community for years to come.