Eleven New OSP Recruit Troopers to be Sworn In and Start Training

Oregon State Police say there are several changes in the department's recruitment process to help meet recruitment goals without reducing standards of excellence.

Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - Eleven new recruit troopers will be sworn in Monday morning at the start of 24-weeks of training to launch their careers with the Oregon State Police. These new recruit troopers were hired as part of the Department's aggressive recruiting effort to find men and women interesting in this exciting law enforcement career opportunity.

Upon successfully completing training, these OSP recruit troopers are scheduled for Patrol Services Division assignments at OSP offices throughout Oregon. Four will go to Portland, the Salem and Bend areas will receive two new troopers, and the Springfield, Coos Bay and Albany areas will each see the arrival of one new trooper. On March 3rd 2008 at 10:30 AM, OSP Superintendent Timothy McLain will swear in the 9 men and 2 women recruits in the Hall of Heroes at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. Once sworn in, the recruits will receive 24 weeks of intensive training.

This includes the 16-week Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) training with other agency recruits and eight weeks of pre- and advanced-DPSST training unique to the requirements of Oregon State Police.

An unprecedented, aggressive recruitment and training plan is helping the Oregon State Police find qualified applicants to fill current vacancies and recent legislatively approved new trooper positions in the future.

The support of Governor Ted Kulongoski and legislative leadership has provided funding during the 2007 and recently completed 2008 legislative sessions for 139 new trooper positions for the Patrol Services Division, Fish & Wildlife Division, and Criminal Investigations Division.

In 2007, OSP hired 36 recruit troopers to fill existing vacancies who were trained at DPSST.

Oregon State Police say there are several changes in the department's recruitment process to help meet recruitment goals without reducing standards of excellence. Some of the changes included:

* A completely re-tooled recruitment website at OSPTrooper.com specifically designed to provide important information to applicants;

* The ability to fill out an application online and immediately email it to OSP;

* Additional Entry Level Testing dates to provide more opportunities in streamlining the testing process;

* 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 recent out-of-state visit at the University of Idaho campus to recruit, receive applications, and conduct Entry Level Testing over a four day period; and,

* New patrol vehicles with rear bumper decals reading: "BE A TROOPER www.OSPTrooper.com"

New Entry Level Testing dates have been added to provide more frequent testing opportunities and streamline the process. Upcoming testing dates available for future applicants are scheduled for:

* May 3, 2008 at West Albany High School in Albany

* June 21, 2008 at Jefferson High School in Jefferson

* July 12, 2008 at Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton

* July 19, 2008 at Crater High School in Central Point

More information is available at the new OSP recruitment website and also on the Department's home website at oregon.gov/OSP.