Cape senior explores law enforcement career as RBPD intern

Benjamin Clifton, a 17-year-old Cape Henlopen High School senior, may not yet know where he’ll be attending college next year, but he’s settled on a career path. 

“I didn’t figure out that I wanted to do law enforcement until the end of last year,” he said. “I was bouncing a lot of ideas around in my head. Military? No. I thought about being a pilot or construction site manager, but none of those kind of hit. I like the idea of law enforcement – it’s got a good balance of desk and field work.”

Clifton imagines himself with a federal agency such as the U.S. Marshals Service or Drug Enforcement Administration. And he’s getting a leg up on law enforcement experience as an intern with the Rehoboth Beach Police Department. Clifton is spending a couple of hours two or three times a week this school year shadowing officers, doing things like ride-alongs, running radar, sitting in on budget meetings, and organizing equipment and uniforms.

“All those different things and tasks police officers have to do are interesting,” Clifton said. “It’s not a job where you do just one thing.”

When he’s not working on building his law enforcement resume, Clifton spends a good deal of his time training for the 800 meters and 4x400 relay, which he anchors. His goal is to do well enough during the winter indoor track season and spring outdoor season to attract the attention of some Division I schools. “I really want to throw myself into the top competition,” he said.

So, while Clifton’s college and major are still to be determined, he’s pretty confident about his career path.

“I definitely think that I’ve found the right career,” he said. “Law enforcement is definitely right for me.”

Clifton is the youngest son of Derek and Kristin Clifton of Milton.