(COLORADO) – Law enforcement agencies across the country have experienced many challenges over the last couple of years, including hiring and keeping qualified professionals. In the last two years, the Colorado State Patrol has lost over 100 Troopers for different reasons. Included in that is a rise in retirements and separations, many of whom are leaving the policing profession.
Despite the challenges of finding qualified candidates, the Colorado State Patrol is focused on finding future cadets dedicated to serving Colorado communities. In fact, for the first time in Patrol history, there are two concurrent Cadet Academy classes running totaling almost 80 cadets. The first class began in September 2021 and is expected to graduate in April 2022 and the other started on November 21, 2021, and will graduate in June 2022. After 29 weeks of training, these cadets will be equipped to proceed into the field training program, and then out to the road as troopers. It takes an enormous amount of time, sacrifice, and dedication to become a trooper with the Colorado State Patrol.
“This is a very interesting and challenging time to become a Colorado State Patrol Trooper,” says Sergeant Troy Kessler, “but it’s an exponentially more rewarding time also. People in this line of work enter because it’s rooted deep in who they are as they care for and make a difference in their community. This group of cadets has stepped up into this career and shown that law enforcement is still a desired profession”
The Colorado State Patrol is inviting more people to join their Trooper ranks. The next application period opens Monday, December 6, 2021, and closes Sunday, December 26, 2021. The application process takes several months and only opens once or twice per year. People who are interested in learning more and wanting to apply, are encouraged to visit the Colorado State Patrol website at www.colorado.gov/csp.
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ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE PATROL
Since our origin in 1935, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has focused on preserving human life and protecting property within our communities. Our 1,100 members embody the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect in their daily jobs. In addition to our expertise in motor vehicle safety on the state’s roadways, the CSP is responsible for the Governor and other dignitaries’ protection, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more.