A Colorado State Trooper has a direct impact in protecting life and serving Colorado's communities.
Colorado State Troopers are integral in protecting communities across the state and ensuring our roadways remain safe for residents and visitors alike. The high-level training and top-notch skills provided to our Cadets and troopers through continued education opportunities are what set our agency apart. Learn more and take the next step into this fulfilling career today.
Interested in scheduling a ride-along with your local troop office? Learn more
ALL COLORADO STATE PATROL TROOPERS MUST FIRST BECOME CADET INTERNS.
Cadets: A Colorado State Patrol Cadet trains to become a fully functional State Trooper to patrol highways and ensuring public safety by enforcing all state and federal laws pertaining to the traffic network. A Cadet will also train to analyze trends and statistics in order to determine the appropriate enforcement processes to be used in accomplishing task goals. Some duties and activities that are consistent with becoming a Cadet are listed as follows.
- Investigate traffic crashes, auto thefts, livestock thefts, drug trafficking and citizen complaints,
- Determine whether civil or criminal laws have been violated and learn the appropriate enforcement process,
- Write reports mandated by Patrol policy and state and federal laws that document enforcement and investigative activities,
- Develop case files for prosecution,
- Testify at hearings and trials,
- Respond in emergency situations involving, but not limited to: lives in jeopardy, assisting other agencies, disaster mobilization and crowd control. A Cadet learns to formulate action plans that anticipate continuously changing circumstances and how to resolve emergencies,
- Attend training and certification courses in technical law enforcement skills including, but not limited to: Firearms, First Air/CPR, driving, de-escalation, intervention, arrest control tactics, and physical agility, and,
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Individuals participating in the Cadet Academy and Field Training Officer program are considered Cadets and receive the Starting Cadet Salary.
After completing the academy and field training officer program, individuals are promoted to Trooper I. This class describes the fully-operational Trooper. Positions in this level have primary responsibility for enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws by patrol work that includes traffic control, investigating crashes, helping motorists with emergencies or mechanical breakdowns and some crime prevention. Some positions in this class may perform special law enforcement assignments in such areas as hazardous materials route enforcement, interstate commercial transportation enforcement and special security or escort duties.
Each trooper will be allocated into a Trooper I, Trooper II, or Trooper III classification based on your tenure as a Colorado State Patrol Trooper. The classifications are divided into the following categories and will receive the above rate:
- Trooper I = $7,635 monthly
- Trooper II (4th Anniversary) = $8,553 monthly
- Trooper III (8th Anniversary) = $9,480 monthly
Your yearly anniversary date will be the first of the month following your graduation date. For example, if you graduated from the Academy on June 9, 2017, your anniversary date will be July 1, 2017. Your reallocation begins on your anniversary date. Therefore, in this example, this trooper would allocate to Trooper II on July 1, 2021 (4th anniversary), and Trooper III on July 1, 2025 (8th anniversary).
Note: CSP does not currently allow lateral transfers from other law enforcement agencies directly into the Trooper I Classification. All new hires must become Cadets before promoting to Trooper I.
