The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is currently embarking upon an aggressive statewide recruiting initiative, a “recruiting blitz,” in an effort to seek out and recruit qualified applicants for Trooper positions. Although this is a statewide initiative, much recruiting effort is being put into eastern North Carolina.

As of July 2018, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol statewide is allotted 1,779 Trooper positions, with only 1,581 of those positions being filled. This leaves a statewide total of 198 Trooper position vacancies, with the largest percentage of those vacancies being in eastern North

Carolina.

In 2019, the Highway Patrol will be conducting three Basic Patrol Schools. Applicants who are already possess a Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification are eligible to apply for one of the two Fast Track Basic Schools, which are tentatively scheduled to begin on Feb. 10, 2019 and Aug. 4, 2019. Applicants who do not possess a BLET certification may apply for the Traditional Basic Patrol School, which is tentatively scheduled to begin ·on March 3, 2019. The Highway Patrol is currently accepting applications for these Basic Patrol Schools.

The basic qualifications for Trooper positions are listed below:

Age – Minimum – 21 years by the first day of Basic School. Maximum – 39 years of age or less. (The applicant may not have reached their 40th birthday on the first day of Patrol Basic School.)

No maximum height.

Weight must be commensurate with height and body frame.

Must be in excellent physical condition with no obvious condition, which will impair performance of Patrol duties.

As a minimum, an applicant must have graduated from an accredited high school or hold a Certificate of High School Equivalency (i.e. G.E.D. General Education Development Certificate).

Must be a citizen of the United States, and must be a legal resident of or reside in North Carolina as of the date he/she reports to Basic School.

Criminal History – Must not have pled guilty to, entered a plea of no contest, or have been convicted of any crime other than a minor misdemeanor; must not, during the three years preceding the date of his/her application, have been convicted of a traffic offense which required suspension or revocation of driving privileges; or held a drivers license which was in a state of suspension or revocation; must not have accumulated more than eight points against his/her driving record during the preceding three years or anytime after the date of the application. As of date of application or thereafter, applicant must meet the minimum standards for law enforcement officers established by the N.C. Criminal Justice Training and Standards Division.

Former Employment – Must, if a former Patrol member, complete all Patrol pre-employment requirements, including re-completion of Patrol Basic School.

Acceptance of Conditions and Benefits – Must be willing to live and work in any section of the state and to be transferred at the discretion of the Patrol commander.

Must have 20/20 vision in each eye; uncorrected vision of no more than 20/200 in each eye corrected to 20/20 in each eye with corrective lenses. Must not be color blind or affected by night blindness; must pass depth perception test.

Reading Comprehension Test – Must take a reading comprehension test and score at or above the tenth (10th ) grade level.

Applicant must successfully pass the COOPER Physical Fitness Test.

Written Tests – Prospective applicants who successfully pass the COOPER will be given the IO Solutions Online Test. This test contains a verbal and recall section and a biographical data section.

Must submit to and complete a polygraph examination.

Must satisfactorily complete a thorough background investigation, including a check of State and Federal Bureau of Investigation records.

Applicants must be interviewed by the Patrol’s Applicant Review Board.

Must meet physical standards set by the Patrol Medical Services director.

Must receive favorable recommendation from a psychological evaluation.

Must be accepted by the Patrol Commander to attend the Patrol Basic School.

Must successfully complete the Patrol Basic School and Field Training and Evaluation Program.

Recent legislative salary increases have made Highway Patrol salaries very competitive. The starting annual salary for a cadet enrolled in a Basic Patrol School is $37,323. Upon graduation from the Basic Patrol School, the starting salary for a Trooper is $44,000. Annual salary increases are given to Troopers in good standing and until they reach a top pay of $64,202.00 after approximately six years of service.

In addition to a competitive salary, Troopers qualify for state benefits, which include health insurance through the NC Teachers and State Employees Health Plan, opportunities to enroll in dental, vision, and other insurance coverage plans, participate in the state retirement and pension plan as well as contribute to 40 I K and 529 Deferred Comp retirement plans.

Highway Patrol recruiters will be seeking out qualified a persons by visiting local universities and colleges, participating in career and job fairs, having information booths at local county fairs, and advertising in all local and statewide media mediums and markets.

Persons interested in a career as a Trooper may contact or visit their local State Highway Patrol office and speak to a Trooper for more information, or visit the Patrol’s website at www. ncdps.gov, or find them on Facebook.

Those interested who are living, working, or attending school in Bertie, Hertford or Gates counties are encouraged to contact or visit the Ahoskie Highway Patrol Office at 252-332-6800, located at 242 NC Hwy 42 West, Ahoskie.

“Persons thinking about a promising and fulfilling career in law enforcement should consider greatly a career as a Trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol,” said NCHP First Sgt. Rodney W. Sawyer of the Ahoskie office.