Oregon State Police Looking for Trooper Applicants

OSP Project 200, developed by OSP Captain Walt Markee, is a two-year plan to recruit, test, select, and train 200 recruit troopers.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police is now in the second phase of an unprecedented, aggressive recruitment and training plan for interested potential applicants considering a career as an OSP Trooper.

Men and women in Oregon and around the country interested in a law enforcement career with the Department must have their application turned in by October 31st to be considered for the second phase of one of three upcoming Entry Level Testing opportunities on to-be-determined dates and at locations in Salem (November), Pendleton (December), and Medford (December).

OSP Superintendent Tim McLain directed the Department to develop an aggressive plan that took into account present realities and future possibilities made real with the support of Governor Ted Kulongoski and the 2007 Legislature through the addition of 100 trooper positions.

"Those that serve our communities in law enforcement positions are critical to our safety and economic vitality," said Governor Kulongoski. "At a time when many police departments around the nation, including our Oregon State Police, are facing challenges recruiting qualified applicants, I encourage those interested to apply for a career in law enforcement. Those hired as new Oregon State Police recruit troopers will represent the first step toward restoring 24-7 coverage, creating safer highways and more secure communities for citizens throughout the state."

OSP Project 200, developed by OSP Captain Walt Markee, is a two-year plan to recruit, test, select, and train 200 recruit troopers at a time when OSP is integrating training with local agencies at the new Department of Public Safety Standards and Training facility in Salem.

"The Oregon State Police, like many other law enforcement agencies in Oregon and around the country, have many career opportunities now and in the near future," said Sergeant Erin Reyes of the Sworn Applicant Processing Section. "The Department's operations were helped through budget and staffing-related decisions by Governor Kulongoski and Oregon legislators seeking to restore 24/7 patrol operations and adequate funding levels for those core services that support the greater public safety system."

The November and December Entry Level Testing opportunities are part of the second phase of OSP Project 200.

During the first phase, Entry Level Testing was held in Dallas, Pendleton and Medford with more than 1,100 individuals applying, far exceeding the goal of 600 applications.

Of those, 359 attended one of the three testing locations from which OSP is currently conducting background investigations on nearly 150 applicants who passed the Entry Level Testing.

A first-time Career Officer Lateral Entry Employment Program (COLEEP) to accept qualified law enforcement employees from other agencies who have a minimum of three years of full-time job experience as a sworn, paid law enforcement officer within the past six years.

A four-week training program for officers hired through the COLEEP program that will emphasize Department-related instruction and help put experienced officers on the road and in our communities sooner.

The Department currently has two separate Recruit Trooper classes being trained at DPSST.

One class recently completed their first month of OSP-specific training and is integrated in a 16-week Basic Police training class with city and county agency recruits.

The second class is in their first month of OSP-specific training before they begin the 16-week DPSST training. In May 2007 eight OSP recruit troopers graduated after completing 24 weeks of OSP mandated recruit training.