My Odds of Becoming a Trooper

[MRuffalo715]

This is my first post. I'm very happy to have found this site! I welcome input from anyone!

My name is Mark and I am a student at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. I am almost nineteen years old. I have wanted to be a state trooper or highway patrol officer all of my life.

While I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology, I can't help but notice that many state police and highway patrol agencies require only a high school diploma. The Florida Highway Patrol, for instance, requires only that applicants be nineteen or older and possess a high school diploma or GED. I am considering applying to the FHP in the summer. The only reason I would ever leave the University of Pittsburgh without my bachelor's degree would be because I was selected to attend the academy.

My background is squeaky clean. I have never used an illegal drug or substance. I have never drunk alcohol. I have never smoked a cigarette. I have never even had a cup of coffee! I have never been arrested. I have never been involved in a motor vehicle accident. I have never received a speeding ticket. I have never received a parking ticket. I have wanted to become a state trooper or highway patrol officer all of my life.

I graduated fifth in a high school class of 513. I have been a hospital volunteer for two years. I am in relatively good shape. I can run a seven minute mile.

I have two questions:

1.) Is it possible for me to be selected to attend the FHP academy at nineteen?

2.) Will applying and not being selected hurt my chances of being selected by the FHP or another agency in the future?

Also, does anyone recommend other warm weather state police or highway patrol agencies? I have looked into the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the New Mexico State Police, the Arizona DPS Highway Patrol, the Nevada DPS Highway Patrol, and the California Highway Patrol. I don't know if I can take another Pittsburgh winter!

Thank you very much. I look forward to your input.

[science or LE]

You sound like you've lived the life that will be a perfect background check, unlike me. I say go for your dreams but you should see if the FHP offers any pay raises for having higher degrees in CJ or other LE related degrees. You should also check the FHP site, a lot of agencies require you to be 21 at time of appointment.

[Retired Trooper]

Sound like you have a good background. Do not look to get hired that young no matter what the hiring age is. My adivce to you is to finish your degree. The degree with a good background will help you out more. Just be patient and dont rush into things.

[grumpyirishman]

FINISH YOUR DEGREE FIRST!! YOU'LL REGRET IT IF YOUR DON'T!! :mad:

[EJV]

I applied for the CHP back in 2000 (age 20) and though I was well qualified I was half way through college and they said "Finish school." Not to say that they weren't taking anyone without degrees but it definitely seemed like there stance was, "If you started school, you may as well finish it." I am glad I did finish.

I live in NM right now and I would have to say that I would never consider working for the state police here. I will be back in CA in June and will also say that I wouldn't consider working for the CHP again. Compared to the way I have been treated in my current application with a Bay area agency, there is a night and day difference between the 2 organizations. The CHP was insistant on treating me like a 12 year old for some reason. I suppose they were just trying to get me worked up but they seemed at the time, to be very unprofessional.

Having done 12 weeks of OTS for the Air Force in Montgomery, AL, I can also say that I am too old to go through similar resident training again (although OTS was far more strict). The CHP Academy let's you out on Wednesday nights and weekends (last I checked). I suppose since it's a state wide academy that is somewhat common place and you may well find that situation in any SP or HP academy. I am not saying it's a bad way to do things, I just wouldn't want to do it anymore.

Apart from all that, I don't know anything about the other departments you listed.

I would only echo that you should indeed finish school. College is an enjoyable time so don't rush out of it if you don't have to.

[MRuffalo715]

Thanks for all of the advice. Don't worry GrumpyIrishman, I do intend to finish my bachelor's degree. I just want to get out there so bad! Thanks for the advice on the California Highway Patrol, EJV. You do bring up a good point about the difficulty of state police academy training. I think I would enjoy the lifestyle of a state trooper more than that of a municipal police officer. I wouldn't like to have to deal with domestic disputes and other issues that a municipal police officer deals with every day. I would rather patrol the interstate. It's all preference, though. Thanks again to those that replied!

[jakal]

MRuffalo715,

I definitely agree with everyone else about finishing school first. I was in a similar situation as you a couple years ago. I had my undergrad degree and had just finished my first year of law school (several different reasons for going although I never wanted to practice, just wanted to be a LEO), but was thinking of not finishing my JD and applying with my state's troopers. However everybody was telling me that I had made it through the first year and should finish my JD because once I get it they can't take it back and I would open so many other doors for the future.

Now I'm about to graduate in May and I have gone through the trooper application process and am anticipating an invitation to the next academy class.

Since I'm about to graduate I can tell you honestly I'm very glad that everyone told me to finish my degree, because there are so many more advantages out there with a degree (especially something further than a bachelor).

So, stick with it because it will definitely benefit you in the end and my personal advice would be to look at getting an advance degree or maybe find a department that will pay for school while you work with them and take advantage of that.

Anyways just my 2 cents... best of luck to you!

[H.R. Cufnstuf]

Most young Troopers i've seen go through the academy back when I worked there were college graduates. Just because it's not a requirement does not mean they don't want to see it plus they'll be very concerned that you dropped out.