Brett Ward, a sophomore from Tonkawa, recently participated in a Northern Oklahoma College internship with the Kay County Sheriff’s Department.
During his ride-along with deputies, Ward witnessed tornadoes and manhunts.
“It was very interesting to say the least,” Ward said.
Some of the key skills the internship taught Ward were those of observation and attention to detail.
This internship gave Ward, a Criminal Justice major at NOC, an opportunity to see what a day in the life at the Kay County Sheriff’s Department looks like.
He learned about the responsibilities of a county deputy and reflected, “Working in a job like that is not for the faint of heart.”
Ward found that the ability to deal with people who do not follow the rules is a key component of the job description. “ ’
The Kay County Sheriff s Office is proud to be a part of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board at NOC,” said Kay County Sheriff Steve Kelley. “I have currently been working with the advisory board committee for a couple of years. Internships are a great way for any student to see first-hand what the job entails and to observe the real life situations law enforcement officers deal with on a daily basis.”
“We have had several interns not only at the Sheriff’s Office but some with the Kay County Detention Center,” Kelley added. “I strongly believe the interns we had learned a great deal to prepare themselves for this career path. Interns observe through the ride a along program learning not only the state laws but how to manage different types of crisis, helping those that need help, for example domestic situations, thefts, frauds, scams, civil claims and maybe just helping change a flat tire, just to name a few.”
“It also provides some knowledge of being prepared for the unknown, safety, report writing and paying attention to detail,” Kelley said. “This job is a huge responsibility that some take for granted. This is not TV its real life and he or she may take a life or yours may be at risk at any given moment. I want to thank the interns for being interested in this field of work and commend you at the same time. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with NOC and proud to be a part of a very important program.”
For more information about the NOC internship program, contact Kathleen Swain at 580.362.6258 or kathleen.swain@noc.edu .
For a Tonkawa ...
