Students to Get Credit for Work With Police

The Police Department has launched a program in which Cal State Fullerton students will receive course credit for doing police work.

The Officer Audit Program will use student interns to interview people who have dealt with police officers to find out their opinion of the officers. They will ask about officers’ courtesy, professionalism, competence and thoroughness.

Those interviewed will be victims or witnesses listed on crime reports. Confidential reports, however, will not be made available to the students, police said.

The information will be used for training purposes and to help officers improve their job performance, officials said.

For the last two years, such interviews have been conducted by officers. The new program will give police more time to attend to other duties, program coordinators said.

Students will work at least six hours a week and submit reports.

“From the police standpoint, our service to the public will be monitored by a neutral outside organization, and the information gathered will help officers to continue to provide the best service possible to our citizens,” said Sgt. Art Wiechmann, the program’s coordinator.