OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - Trooper applications have increased since Kentucky State Police made changes to its recruitment policy, which no longer requires applicants to have completed some college courses or have military or law enforcement experience.
The number of applications has risen since the policy was changed earlier this year to help address a trooper shortage, Trooper Corey King told the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer in a Monday report.
The agency has more than 800 sworn officers, 500 of whom are road troopers, the Daily News of Bowling Green reported last month. The agency is considered fully staffed when it has 1,070 sworn officers, police recruitment branch commander Lt. Brad Arterburn said.
According to the new policy, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate, plus three years of work experience. Previously, applicants needed military or law enforcement experience, or must have completed 60 college credit hours, enough for an associate degree.
Accepted applicants will complete training at the police academy in Frankfort with an associate degree in criminal justice. The change was part of a strategy to attract people without college degrees who are still strong candidates for a trooper positon, King said.
“There are a lot of good, qualified people with good work ethics and skill sets, but all that was holding them back was that piece of paper,” King said. “This gets them there.”
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Information from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, http://www.messenger-inquirer.com
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