Kyle Evans has always pictured himself becoming a U.S. marshal.

Evans, a senior justice studies major, said being a part of the U.S. Marshals Service is his ideal career. He said his uncle, a police officer in Florida, wouldn’t mind it either.

“He always said if he could do it over again, he’d be a Marshal,” Evans said.

The U.S. Marshals Service only hires those who are in the military and students who have completed training through their college’s cooperative program, said James Owens, instructor of justice studies. He said Kent State is seeking accreditation for a cooperative program with the U.S. Marshals Service for as early as this fall.

“What we’re trying to do is recruit new students and retain the ones we have by giving them employment opportunities in their degrees,” Owens said. He said the new Police Academy at Kent State will present similar opportunities when it begins in the fall.

In Ohio, Heidelberg College is the only other institution with the program.

Before Kent State is approved for the program, it must show that it has a diverse population. Owens said the chances of being accepted are good.

If approved, students will be hired into the U.S. Marshals Service as a co-op employee and will work there for six months before returning to finish their last six months of school, he said.

Owens said U.S. Marshals provide protection for federal court judges and Supreme Court justices, guard federal prisoners and apprehend fugitives, among other responsibilities.

Evans, who is interning with the U.S. Marshals Service in Akron this semester, said he contemplated transferring to a university that has the program, but the complications with credits would cause him to graduate much later than expected.

“I just started bugging Mr. Owens about it,” he said about bringing the program to Kent State. “I probably bugged him everyday for the last four weeks.”

Evans’ internship has fueled his desire to become a U.S. Marshal.

“I got my feet wet by going out with everybody and seeing what they do. It just piqued my interest. After the internship, I don’t want to do anything else,” Evans said. “I want to keep on going with the Marshals.”

Contact safety reporter Morgan Day at [email protected].