Press Release  Public Safety Interns Begin their 2024 Summer of Service

Framingham — Yesterday, Secretary Terrence Reidy and leaders from across the Public Safety and Security Secretariat welcomed the 2024 summer internship cohort as part of a day-long orientation program. Launched by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) in 2022, the paid internship initiative promotes an equitable pathway for individuals interested in pursuing a career in public safety. The program aims to recruit a new and diverse generation of public safety professionals and provide hands-on experience in public service.

“My career in public safety began in 1996 as an intern at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, an experience that profoundly shaped my personal and professional growth. We launched this internship program to provide a new wave of aspiring public safety leaders with the opportunity to acquire real-world experience and see first-hand the demands and rewards of public service,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “My goal is to provide EOPSS interns with a meaningful and transformative learning opportunity that leads to life-long connections and a path to successful and impactful careers.”

For the next 13 weeks, a diverse group of more than 50 students will be fully immersed in 17 different teams and agencies across the Secretariat.  The interns will receive professional exposure to various policy matters such as legal, fiscal, IT, human resources, and communications. Furthermore, this program provides the EOPSS team with a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate the challenges and rewards of choosing a career in public service dedicated to the protection and safety of others.

More than 300 applicants applied for this competitive program. Representing 32 colleges and universities, the cohort of 53 interns comprises 72% women and 62% people of color. The group began the week with an orientation at the Massachusetts State Police Homeland Security Operations Center in Framingham. The interns received a general overview of EOPSS, including the roles and responsibilities of the 12 EOPSS agencies.

To kick off the EOPSS 2024 Summer of Service, Secretary Reidy, EOPSS undersecretaries, and agency leaders welcomed the new interns, shared reflections about their own career trajectories, and imparted insights about how to make the most of their internship experience. 

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