Tri-County high school student applications open for apprenticeship program

Tri-County high school student applications open for apprenticeship program

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Tri-County high school students interested in law enforcement have a step-ahead opportunity with a Lowcountry apprenticeship program. Trident Technical College offers the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship program with 19 career pathways. The North Charleston Police Department is accepting students interested in security and pre-law enforcement.

Opportunity for Rising Juniors, Seniors, and Graduating Seniors

The apprenticeship allows rising high school juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors to get two years of work experience and a year of college credit towards Trident Technical College. Students must be at least 16 years old and can apply through the online application. The police department is accepting applications up until the beginning of the upcoming school year in August.

Skills Development in Law Enforcement

Students entering the security and pre-law enforcement pathway will learn the behind-the-scenes of a police department to keep the community safe. Police department officials say the program works on valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership. Students will continue their high school courses followed by pathway classes at the technical college. Students will work their hours at the police department for their work experience.

Real-Life Experience at North Charleston Police Department

Apprentices who are 16 years old work 10 hours a week at the duty officer’s desk by answering non-emergency calls and taking reports. Older apprentices that are 18 years old experience road work as a community service officer. These students answer non-emergency calls, parking lot accidents, and process post-crime scenes. Deputy Chief Angela Johnson says students go through the training processes just as employees would to learn the responsibilities of maintaining public safety.

Success Stories from Former Apprentices

The department joined the apprenticeship program back in 2017. Since joining, the department added 4 current employees. Patrolman Amiah Jackson worked as a former apprentice at the police department before her current role. Jackson says the program prepared her for full-time employee training by easing the transition from apprentice to full-time. She says the apprenticeship was a great opportunity to get involved with the community early on.

“It was very challenging,” Jackson says. “I can say that I studied every night, was in study groups, working out to try and get myself mentally and physically ready to show the community who I am.”