Members of the Federal Air Marshal Service speak with students at the 10th annual Criminal Justice and Public Service Conference on Wednesday in the Pegasus Ballroom.
Austin Lamanna
UCF’s Lambda Alpha Epsilon hosted its 10th annual Criminal Justice and Public Service Conference in the Pegasus Ballroom on Wednesday to help criminal justice students find jobs after graduation.
During the event, Lambda Alpha Epsilon, UCF’s pre-professional criminal justice student organization, invited organizations such as the FBI, Federal Air Marshals and the Orange County Fire Department to speak and meet with students.
Law enforcement agencies across Florida struggle with staffing shortages, as several deputy offices have staff vacancies as high as 19%, according to Florida Tax Watch. This shortage highlights a demand for criminal justice organizations to connect with students.
UCF’s Lambda Alpha Epsilon president, Kaylee Brewster, senior criminal justice major, spoke about the event’s goal of reducing understaffing.
“We pride ourselves not only for our members but for all students, and in creating opportunities,” Brewster said. “This event really allows them to make professional connections that can aid their future careers.”
Brewster said she hopes students walk away with the same clarity and motivation she feels every year, and that they are more excited about their careers ahead of them.
This event is also put on to help educate students about careers in criminal justice, such as police officer or FBI agent roles, and about the hiring process.
Tanner Smith, junior criminal justice major, who attended the event for the first time, said he was excited to learn more about criminal justice and the opportunities the event offered.
“My understanding of the criminal justice world was limited because I didn’t have anybody to talk to about that kind of stuff, and I didn’t do as much research on my own time as I probably could have,” Smith said.
While students were excited to learn and make connections with this event, freshman criminal justice major Camden Robinett was mainly excited to address the understaffing in the criminal justice field.
“Considering it’s such an important field and line of work for people to get the help they need or justice to be brought upon those who need it, I definitely want to do my part in helping to undo the effects of the shortage,” Robinett said.
Rick DeMarco, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office military field recruiter, said he was especially proud to see the next generation stepping into the field, as he prepared to retire in six days.
“There’s so many people who want to be a police officer, deputy willing to risk their life, potentially or get injured over a perfect stranger they don’t even know,” DeMarco said, “I see all these people that are just as excited about their country, just as excited about their community, just as excited about their future as I was.”