Diverse Candidates Encouraged to Explore a Career with PSP

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the goal of building an agency that reflects the communities it serves, the Pennsylvania State Police reminds qualified candidates — including women and minority applicants — that the deadline to be considered for the next academy class is approaching.

The Pennsylvania State Police continually recruits new troopers to serve across the commonwealth. To be eligible for written examinations scheduled for February 2017, interested parties must submit their applications by December 31, 2016. To view a complete list of prerequisites, to contact a recruiter, or to submit an application, visit www.PATrooper.com.

Following the written examination, successful candidates will move on to the oral exam phase. Individuals selected through the examination process move on to the physical readiness test, polygraph test, background investigation, and medical and psychological evaluations before appointment as a cadet.

In addition to the physical and testing requirements, the department is looking for candidates with superior interpersonal skills, according to State Police Commissioner Colonel Tyree C. Blocker.

"The ability to communicate effectively is essential to modern police work," said Col. Blocker. "We are looking for people with problem-solving skills who want to serve their communities and help build positive relationships on a daily basis."

Pennsylvania State Police cadets earn a biweekly salary of $1,200 before deductions during their 27-week training period. The starting salary for a new trooper is $58,962 per year along with excellent health care benefits. The commonwealth pays the entire cost of all benefits for the trooper and their eligible family members. Duties of a trooper include uniformed patrol, crash investigation, criminal investigations, and incident response.

Applicants must have completed at least 60 semester credit hours at an accredited college or university before being accepted to the academy, unless they have four years of previous law enforcement experience or four years of active military service. Although cadets are not required to be a Pennsylvania resident at the time of application, they must reside within the commonwealth and possess a valid Pennsylvania driver's license at the time of graduation from the academy.

PSP troopers provide primary police coverage in more than 1,200 municipalities and also patrol all interstate highways. For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit www.psp.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ryan Tarkowski, 717-783-5556

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SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department