Police intern's experience has offered an 'eye-opening' foot in the door

Her time as an intern with the Rehoboth Beach Police Department has been an “eye-opening” experience for Alissa Silva, a senior at Cape Henlopen High School with an interest in forensics.  Silva has spent about nine hours a week throughout the school year through the police department’s annual internship program gaining insight and experience related to patrol, law enforcement administration, and community communications.

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As part of her internship, Silva has completed several ride-alongs with officers and visited the State Bureau of Investigation, the Delaware State crime lab, and State Police Troop 7. She’s also gained hands-on experience with community communications and some evidence processing.

“Our annual internship program is a great way for high school students to explore an interest in law enforcement,” says Police Chief Keith Banks. “In turn, our officers are often inspired and re-energized through the enthusiasm and outstanding potential demonstrated by students like Alissa.”

Silva keeps a full schedule outside of her police internship duties. She is a captain on the Cape Henlopen swim team, lead editor for the Viking Ventures newspaper, and active with the mock trial team. She also takes Academic Challenge classes through Delaware Tech and criminal justice and criminology classes through Wilmington University.

Silva will graduate in the spring, return to the Delaware Seashore State Park Beach Patrol this summer, and then enroll in the forensics examiner program at West Virginia University in the fall. An interest in law enforcement comes naturally for Silva as both of her parents are retired from the New York City Police Department.

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“I’ve always had a great interest in the stories my family tells and have thought that law enforcement would be a good option for me,” she says. “This internship is helping me to fully understand what all goes into law enforcement and helping me get a foot in the door.”