AAMU Student First to Accept Minneapolis PD HBCU Internship
Hall Hopes to Improve Community Relations Through MPD Internship
As police departments across the country continue to face the challenge of bringing the gap with the communities they serve, many have turned to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) for help. When the Minneapolis Police Department announced its HBCU internship – part of the Police Executive Research Forum’s national program – no students initially applied.
Eventually, Jayla Hall ’24 answered the call – becoming the first HBCU student to intern in the department that has been at the center of much of the national conversation on policing.
In the aftermath of the 2020 killing of George Floyd, the Minneapolis Police Department has begun to undergo several changes through both internal initiatives and steps outlined in a U.S. Department of Justice overhaul plan and an agreement with the state’s own Department of Human Rights. The internship for HBCU students is just one of many steps in that work.
In a recent CBS News story, Hall said she’s learned valuable lessons and shared insights on how the department can build trust.