Criminal Justice majors establishing careers

As current students prepare for careers in the field, law enforcement agencies continue to recruit CSC graduates. Recently, the Lincoln Police Department (LPD) recruited and tested applicants on campus for two days that included TABE test, the physical abilities test, and interviews.

Criminal Justice Professor Jamie Wada said the LPD officers commented that CSC has excellent students who are friendly, interested, and welcoming.

“LPD indicated that this was one of their best recruiting visits, citing the campus’s welcoming environment by everyone on campus. They thought our students were great and want to come here every semester to recruit and test for LPD. Our students reflect the caliber of candidates LPD is looking to hire,” Wada said.

Plenty Bull was hired in February 2026 as a Deputy Sheriff for Custer County in South Dakota. He graduated from CSC in May 2024 with a focus in Forensics and a minor in Creative Writing. His father has been an officer since 1996, which inspired him to pursue the profession.

“He showed me what an officer needed to be. Despite the odds of the job, my dad continued to persevere and be there for the people. When it comes to building trust among the community, I remember the story my dad told me when he first started. My grandma told him, ‘Don’t put yourself above others. Treat people with respect and they will remember you for it.’ Ever since then, I have tried to carry on those words every day when I’m on the job. It’s either holding the door open for someone or asking someone how their day is going. Even when I issue someone a ticket, I still explain it to them softly.”

In addition to learning from his father, Plenty Bull said the CSC Criminal Justice program helped prepare him for the realities of law enforcement work.

“I felt like the knowledge from the Criminal Justice program really paved a way for me in terms of the job. From the inner workings of the criminal justice system to what an officer needed to prepare me for what the job entailed. Although law enforcement is like a roller coaster, I continue to learn and grow from the experiences.”

Plenty Bull also commented on the variety and stress that can come with the job.

“Some days might not be too bad and then other days it feels like I bit off more than I can chew. To deal with the stressful side of the job, I spend time with friends, watching a movie, working out, or going on a hike. On the emotional side, I do my best to leave work at work,” Plenty Bull said.

Like Plenty Bull, Tolstedt said her coursework at CSC helped prepare her for both academy training and daily work in law enforcement. Tolstedt was hired in July 2025 and started work in August as a Chadron Police Officer.

She said most of the CJ classes from CSC were useful in different aspects of her career preparation.

“I received the top academic award at the police academy. A lot of this was due to knowing a lot of the topics they taught at the academy from my CJ classes in college. The verbal judo from Dr. Wada’s class has been useful in communicating with people at work,” Tolstedt said.

Tolstedt said her previous military training also helped her adjust to academy life.

“The academy was a lot like college. I am a Sergeant in the National Guard as Military Police and therefore I went through basic training and MP MOS (military occupational specialty) training at Ft. Leonard Wood. It was more like college classes than basic training in my opinion. There was a lot of classroom work before we went out and did the practical skill portions.”

To manage the demands of the job, Tolstedt said she relies on exercise to reduce stress and maintain balance.

“My chief gave me a book on emotional survival for law enforcement. The book talks about handling the physiological responses to stress through working out. I have a PT test for the National Guard twice a year, so I try to stay in shape for that, but also working out after work helps me de-stress. It helps me calm my brain, so I don’t feel overwhelmed,” she said.

Similarly, Sitzman said both academy training and field work have required constant learning and adaptability. Sitzman started with the Nebraska State Patrol by attending the academy in July 2025. She began her work on the road in January 2026. She graduated from CSC in the spring of 2023.

“Academy training was both mentally and physically demanding. We had PT every morning, followed by long days in the classroom. The classroom portion was a mix of learning material and hands-on scenarios, which really pushed you to apply what you were taught,” Sitzman said. “Going into it, I expected it to be tough and challenging, but nothing really prepares you for it. It definitely pushed me in ways I hadn’t experienced before.”

She said the learning process continues long after academy training ends.

“On the job, you’re constantly learning. Every day brings something new, situations you may not have seen before, so you have to think through them and apply what you’ve already been taught. A big part of it is learning from experience, asking questions, and building off each situation so you’re better prepared the next time.”

Based on her experiences, Sitzman encouraged current CJ students to prepare themselves mentally and physically for careers in law enforcement.

“It’s important to build discipline, stay in good physical shape, and develop strong communication skills. I’d also encourage them to go in with an open mind and be ready to learn every day,” Sitzman said. “Understand that no amount of preparation fully shows you what the job is really like until you’re in it. So be adaptable, ask questions, and learn from the people around you. Lastly, make sure you have a good support system and something outside of work to help you stay balanced.”