A student at the Hessian University of Police and Administration in Hesse, Germany, is serving a three-week internship at the Mathews County Sheriff’s Office.

Fabienne Stock, who lives near Frankfurt, Germany, is studying law enforcement with the goal of becoming a police detective. In Germany, it takes three years of study and training to become a police officer or detective, said a press release. During that three years, the student takes theoretical classes, has field training, including serving internships, and ultimately graduates with a bachelor’s degree. 

It just so happened that Stock was an exchange student during her high school years with Mathews School Resource Officer Julianna Berry, when Berry was a resident of South Boston, Virginia. Stock reached out to Berry, who received approval from Sheriff Mark Barrick for Stock to join the sheriff’s office for three weeks, with Berry as her mentor. The internship incurs no expense for the sheriff’s office; all costs for travel and accommodations are borne by the student.

Stock said in her letter to Barrick that she was fascinated with overseas travel, including experience a different language, culture, and “the foreign art of living.” She said that Berry was the primary reason she had chosen to pursue law enforcement as a career, and that she wanted to get to know the American system of law enforcement better.

“To exchange tips and tricks between the states to improve the work of both police forces is the final ambition,” she said.

During the internship, Stock has accompanied Berry on her visits to the county’s schools and has observed Berry serving in her role as school resource officer, said the release. Learning about traffic violations such as speeding and out-of-date plates has been part of her experience, as well, along with learning how different violations are handled in court and what the consequences are for violators.

“All in all, during my short internship I am given many chances and possibilities to gain insight in the American police work,” said Stock in the release. “I am very thankful for this internship, and so far really happy with the work and the colleagues at the Mathews County Sheriff’s Office.”