Oxford police seek Ole Miss interns for public information role

Oxford police were recruiting University of Mississippi journalism students for a Public Information Officer internship that would put them inside the department’s public-facing communications work at 9 Industrial Park Drive.

The Oxford Police Department has 91 sworn officers and more than 114 total staff, and its website lists internship openings in criminal justice, PIO and marketing, and social work.

For University of Mississippi students in the School of Journalism and New Media, the work can also connect directly to academic credit. Internships must provide significant professional experience relevant to journalism or integrated marketing communications, and students may earn credit through JOUR 395 or IMC 395 if approved. The school sets minimum work thresholds of 50, 100 or 150 hours, depending on the number of credit hours.

Oxford police have used the program before. In 2023, public information officer Breck Jones hired Ole Miss marketing majors Nikkola Bales and Max Binkley as interns, and their work included press releases, graphics and social media posts. Later, the department thanked fall interns Shelbie Spain, Emma Lovegrove and Max Binkley for helping with social media content, virtual ride-alongs, press releases and other communications tasks.

In spring 2026, Oxford police welcomed Rachel Phillips and Dacey Leonard from the Ole Miss School of Journalism and New Media. Phillips was returning for a second internship after working with the department in the summer and fall, and the pair would focus on social media, media relations and law-enforcement communications.

A prior department post set the deadline for a fall Public Information Officer internship at July 14 and directed applicants to send a resume to Breck Jones at bjones@oxfordpolice.net.