Oxford Police Department Welcomes New Criminal Justice Interns to Force

The Oxford Police Department added a new class of criminal justice interns to its ranks this week, announcing the arrivals on its official social media accounts as part of what the department called an investment in the future of public safety.

OPD posted the welcome message on Instagram on March 24, drawing 176 likes, and framed the program as central to its workforce development goals. Students from the University of Mississippi and other local colleges are typical participants in the department's criminal justice internship pipeline, though OPD did not release the names, number, or specific assignments of the current cohort.

The department's internship offerings extend beyond criminal justice: OPD also runs PIO/Marketing and Social Work placements, giving students structured entry points into multiple facets of law enforcement and public administration. Those programs run alongside a department that maintains Mississippi State Accreditation through the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission and operates more than 20 specialized units, from a Drone Unit and Fusion Center to Mounted Patrol and Crisis Negotiations.

Officials and community leaders have noted that internship programs of this kind can strengthen ties between police and residents, improve training pipelines, and increase transparency, though OPD did not outline specific goals for this cohort at the time of the announcement.

For students weighing a career in law enforcement, OPD's recruitment page lists a starting salary of approximately $52,531 for new officers, rising to $64,871 for experienced hires. The department did not provide a start date, duration, or rotation schedule for the current intern class, and said additional details would be shared as they become available.