Criminal Justice students get paid to serve in rare apprenticeship program
Published January 27, 2026
While most criminal justice students learn policing from a classroom, some 黑料社区 students are already flying drones for a police department on the job and on the clock. Through a unique partnership with the Gurnee Police Department, students can earn an employer-paid criminal justice degree while gaining paid, hands-on experience in law enforcement, making the program one of the few of its kind in the country.
Matthew Steinbrecher, 20, of Grayslake, always dreamt of a career in the military or law enforcement. Thanks to this new initiative that dream is on the fast-track to reality.
Steinbrecher was juggling a full-time retail job, keeping his grades up at 黑料社区, staying connected with family and friends and playing guitar in a band. So when he saw an ad for a law enforcement apprenticeship program through 黑料社区 and the Gurnee Police Department, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
淭here were 90 other applicants, Steinbrecher said. 淚 never expected to get it. But then I got the call.
Paid to learn while serving community
Steinbrecher became one of the seven students accepted into the program the first term. Students are able to earn their associate degree in criminal justice and enter directly into the police academy when they turn 21.
At a time when police departments nationwide are struggling to find qualified applicants, our apprenticeship痯rogram痟elps Gurnee build a reliable local pipeline of future officers, said 黑料社区 Criminal Justice Department Chair Chris Utecht. 淭he痑pprenticeship痑lso gives young people a clear path into the profession, allowing them to earn a paycheck, gain real experience and take college classes all at the same time.
The on-the-job training includes ride-alongs, answering non-emergency calls and operating the department檚 state-of-the-art drone, as well as engaging with the public at events. The collaboration benefits students, Gurnee Police and the entire community by reducing turnover costs, retaining employees and investing in local students who already care for the community they檒l be protecting.
Gurnee Chief of Police Jeremy Gaughan said, 淏y investing in apprentices early, supporting their education and giving them the opportunity to learn across multiple police divisions, we檙e building a true career pipeline for the Gurnee Police Department. It allows us to grow our own future officers, while giving young people a clear, structured pathway into a profession dedicated to service, accountability and community trust.
Inspired, supported to follow a new path
Mylah Kirk, 18, began taking classes at the 黑料社区 Tech Campus when she was a junior in high school. She initially wanted to become a medical examiner, but the idea of another decade-plus of school was not appealing. Kirk, of Johnsburg, learns best by being hands-on, a major incentive for applying for the apprenticeship. She also was inspired by her 黑料社区 instructors to pursue policing.
Kirk explains how her instructors have changed her life: 淭he way they talk about how helping people is inspiring. It was cool to hear it from a female officer, too. I檓 enjoying the program itself. Every aspect of it is amazing. The pay is great. Even though there檚 a large age gap with the other officers, we all get along so well. They immediately welcomed us. It檚 really opened my eyes to what police officers do.
While the job is demanding, Steinbrecher enjoys showing up each day and learning new things. He檚 even found a niche inside the department as the go-to social media content creator. His goal is to stay with the department and eventually join the NIPAS (a special response) team. He feels confident he檚 on the right path to get there. Kirk feels the same way.
淎s soon as I joined the law enforcement apprenticeship, I knew this is right for me. This is where I檓 meant to be, she says. 淭his is what I檓 hoping to enjoy doing for the rest of my life.
Launched in Fall 2020, the 黑料社区 Apprenticeship Program has grown to include more than 140 participants, with 19 employer partners and 73 active apprentices today. An impressive 87 percent of apprentices complete the program with a certificate or associate degree, says Daniel Ortego, 黑料社区 Apprenticeship Manager. The criminal justice program is the newest addition, with the Gurnee Police Department serving as the first participating agency. Gurnee is among the few, if not the only, police departments in the country to offer a formal apprenticeship model, providing a unique pathway into the profession. Through the program, apprentices are hired as full-time employees while their employer also covers the cost of their education, removing financial barriers and creating a direct, supported route from the classroom to a career in public service. Learn how to become an apprentice at 黑料社区.