TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) — A partnership between the University of Tampa and Tampa Police is giving senior students the chance to become full-time employees of the agency during their final semester.

“We have long had students intern with the agency so now we are excited to move beyond just interns,” said Carly Hilinski-Rosick, chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UTampa.

The partnership could give up to 30 students the chance to complete police academy training before they turn the tassel, which Hilinski-Rosick says could give them a leg up in their law enforcement career.

“A lot of them have a desire to help and see law enforcement as a way that they can help people and also use that as a starting point to move into other specialized roles within law enforcement organizations,” she said.

While in the program, students will be paid $30 per hour to complete their training, while having their academy supplies paid for by the police department. On top of that, students would also be earning the same benefits as other Tampa Police recruits.

“Students are really excited about it,” said Hilinski-Rosick. “We have a lot of other students who are interested as they move on in their education here. I expect that we’ll have a lot of interest and have a healthy group of students every year to participate.”

She says that after students complete the academy, they will continue working at the police department and receive a raise.

“It’s exciting to think about maybe a year or so from now, our first group finishing up and moving into that full time employment,” said Hilinski-Rosick.

Tampa Police says they are expecting to be fully staffed by this fall, projecting their over hires will reach double digits before next year.

Six seniors have signed up to take part in the program this spring. Hilinski-Rosick says applications for the program will have to be filed a year in advance.

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