A Criminal Justice student studying at West Chester University recently interned with the Falls Township Police Department. He lived the on-duty life of a police officer for three months and saw first hand what it’s like to be a police officer.
John Hanczaryk is a Levittown resident and is graduating from West Chester University this December with a degree in Criminal Justice. He recently completed a Three month internship with Falls Township Police.
Following his college graduation, Hanczaryk plans to attend the police academy. After graduating from the police academy, he hopes to work with either Falls Township, Middletown or Bristol police departments.
I want to start off as a patrolman,” he said. “I do want to stay local to where I live.”
Eventually, he said detective work or drug enforcement might be areas of interest as he advances through the police ranks.
During his three month internship, Hanczaryk accompanied police officers on a variety of calls during his eight- or 10-hour shifts.
He helped direct traffic at a fatal vehicle accident and also rode along during speeding enforcement details and traffic stops. Hanczaryk accompanied officers on calls for domestic disputes including joining the police on a call involving an adolescent who had threatened harm to her parents and a sibling. On another occasion, he saw the body of someone who died at their home.
Hanczaryk said. “The dead body was a little bit hard to see, mostly because of the smell.”
His dream of becoming a police officer remains alive despite the challenges.
“A highlight of his internship was assisting with activities during the Youth Police Academy. The 10-day program is geared for seventh- through 12-grade students interested in a law enforcement career. Various police and law enforcement from throughout Bucks County attend sessions and provide students with lessons that actual police recruits take on as part of their training.”
“Falls Township was great to work with. They were always kind to me and helped me out with any questions I had,” Hanczaryk said. “It was a great internship. I saw a good amount of everything, more than I expected.”
Please note Friday morning is Coffee with a Cop at the Falls Senior Center, 282 Trenton Road, Fairless Hills. from 9 am to 11 am.
