Roadrunners gain marketable skills through Crime Scene Investigation internship

MAY 30, 2023 — Two criminology and criminal justice students spent the semester interning with San Antonio Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), thanks to a special opportunity provided by Alpha Phi Sigma (APS).

APS is the nationally recognized honor society for students in the criminal justice sciences.

Its goals are to honor and promote academic excellence, community service, educational leadership and unity.

Recent alumna Frida Zavala ’23 and Jackelyn Rodriguez, who will graduate this fall, have been members of APS for most of their time at UTSA.

“I’ve watched crime shows and read textbooks, but it’s different when you see things in person.”

Jackelyn Rodriguez

“I took Policing, Corrections and Crisis Response with Professor Henry Meade,” Rodriguez said. “I always had the impression he wanted to help us, and it was refreshing. I knew I had to get involved with APS.”

Zavala had a similar experience. She wanted to be more involved with UTSA and to increase her volunteering time. After speaking to Meade, she knew APS was the place to do that.

When undergraduate criminal justice and criminology students reach their senior year at UTSA, they are able to take an internship course. Possibilities range from internships in the Drug Enforcement Agency and SAPD Patrol to private investigation and more.

None of those options, however, spoke to Zavala. She approached Meade to ask for help.

Frida Zavala

Thanks to his close connections with community agencies, Meade was able to institute and set up a selective internship with San Antonio CSI. Zavala and Rodriguez applied and were accepted to what will now be a yearly internship opportunity.

Both students participated in ride-alongs, traveled with investigators to calls, dusted for fingerprints and assisted with evidence collection. “It’s so fast-paced,” Zavala said. “It can be a challenge to keep up with how fast things change, but it’s been such a great learning experience.”

Each intern shift involves a different crime scene assignment. Some are led by civilians while others are sworn officers. “Each one would explain what they look for and what evidence is important,” Rodriguez said. “The best part is seeing the evidence we find at crime scenes.”

Both students credit APS — and Meade — for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue their interests. “I’ve watched crime shows and read textbooks, but it’s different when you see things in person,” Rodriguez said.

“I’m so glad I joined APS,” Zavala said. “Professor Meade really goes out of the way for students, and it’s because of him that we’re able to do this.”

— Amanda Cerreto