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ISP > Career Opportunities > State Troopers State Troopers

The Indiana State Police Department is not accepting applications for employment as a Trooper at this time. Please continue to monitor the ISP web site for information on future recruit hiring processes.

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    Indiana State Police Laboratory Division Directions ~ ONLY Applicants Assigned to Indianapolis Polygraph Site

    Pay Matrix:
    Sworn Matrix - Effective 07-2007
    Sworn Matrix - Effective 07-2008

    Basic Eligibility Requirements and Consideration Factors 

    Eligible candidates for recruit school must:

    1. Be a United States citizen
    2. Be at least 21 and less than 40 years old when appointed as a police employee.
    3. Have vision correctable to 20/50.
    4. Must possess a valid driver's license to operate an automobile.
    5. Applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED.

    The Indiana State Police offers two academy options: the Traditional Academy for individuals with no prior law enforcement experience and a Lateral Academy for certified police officers wishing to transition into a career with the state police.

    Factors that the Department will consider for placement into a Lateral Academy

    1. If appointed, strong consideration will be given to the employee's district of preference. Assignments will be made in accordance with the department's residency requirements and needs.
    2. Must have a minimum of three continuous years of full time, paid, law enforcement experience (sworn or merit) having graduated from a state accredited police academy (entry level law enforcement basic training curriculum); in which, the essential job functions were performed at a satisfactory level or above, as witnessed by the employer or documented by employee evaluations. Paid law enforcement experience does not include employment as a reserve officer, special deputy, jailor, matron, radio operator, etc. even if these duties were performed as a sworn or merit officer. (It includes only full time, paid employment as a sworn or merit officer performing law enforcement functions.)
    3. Must be currently working as a law enforcement officer or may not have a lapse of employment as a law enforcement officer of more than three years prior to the application deadline.
    4. Non-Resident applicants graduating from a law enforcement academy outside the State of Indiana must complete the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy/Law Enforcement Training Board waiver process as determined by the Superintendent.

    Factors that the Department will consider for placement into the Military Obligation Program

    1. You must be currently in active status with a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
    2. You must be currently stationed outside the State of Indiana.
    3. You must have military obligations restricting your participation and availability to travel for the required phases of the Indiana State Police 69th selection process (November 30, 2007 to June 16, 2008).
    4. Your ETS (Estimated Time of Separation) from your United States Military Obligation must conclude prior to May 12th, 2008.
    5. You must be available for testing by May 12th, 2008.

     

    A. INSTRUCTIONS

    No exception will be made for anyone not meeting all requirements. Any application for police employment received after the application deadline shall be held until the beginning of the next selection process.

    The application must be typed or printed legibly in ink.

    Answer all questions. If the question does not apply, state: "none" or "does not apply."

    DO NOT enclose or submit any other documents with your Preliminary Application.  Any other documents needed for the selection process will be requested at a later date.

    It is important that you clearly and correctly indicate your mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number(s). If you have an address, e-mail address, or phone number change, after submitting this application, mail notification of the change to the Department immediately.

    Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant. Any misrepresentation of facts on this application will disqualify the applicant.

    Do not make inquiries regarding the status of the application, you will receive appropriate information concerning the application periodically. Complete applications will be kept in file for one year from the date the selection process ends. After that time, they will be considered inactive and will be destroyed.

    B. SELECTION PROCESS

    1. Submission of completed Preliminary Application Form
    2. Written Test (Excluding the Lateral Academy)
      a. December 1, 2007 - LaVille Jr/Sr High School in Lakeville, IN
      b. December 8, 2007 - State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, IN
      c. December 15, 2007 - Bedford High School in Bedford, IN
    3. Oral Interview / Written Psychological Tests
      a. January 2 - 7, 2008
    4. Preliminary Physical Ability Testing
      a. Testing Dates - January 26 & 27, 2008 - Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Plainfield, IN
    5. Polygraph
      a. January 30 - March 4, 2008
    6. Background Investigation
    7. Superintendent's Review
    8. ILEA Entry Standards / Physical Ability Testing
      a. Testing Dates - April 19 & 20, 2008 - Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Plainfield, IN
    9. Conditional Offer of Employment
    10. Medical Examination / Drug Test / Psychological Evaluation
    11. Superintendent's Review
    12. Start of Academy
      a. June 16, 2008

    NOTE: All candidates who successfully complete the Oral Interview will be tested for their ability to comply with the Preliminary Physical Ability Testing.

    All candidates who successfully complete the Background Investigation will be tested for their ability to comply with the ILEA's Entrance Standards.

    *Failure of any component will result in immediate dismissal from the selection process.

    The expected duration of the selection process will be approximately five months for the Lateral Academy and approximately seven months for a Traditional Academy.

    Any applicant, who competes in a selection process for a position as a sworn officer and is unsuccessful in achieving hiring status, shall not be excluded from competing in any subsequent selection process.

     

    C. RECRUIT ACADEMY

    The school comprises a course of academic and field instruction designed to acquaint the applicant with the performance, functions and duties of the Indiana State Trooper. The conduct of the school closely corresponds to school for officer candidates in military services.

    1. Applicants who attend the training school are furnished lodging and meals at no expense to them. They will also be paid the salary of a Trooper Trainee on a bi-weekly basis.
    2. This training is academically recognized by some universities, and credit may be earned for successful completion of the school.
    3. Trainees may be dismissed at any time during the school.
    4. The Superintendent will designate the status of each trainee who completes the training school, as follows:

    (a) Immediate appointment as a Probationary Officer.
    (b) Placement on a reserve list for the filling of future vacancies.
    (c) Dropped from further consideration.

     

    D. PROBATIONARY PERIOD

    During the officer's first year as a sworn police officer, the officer is on probation and may be discharged at any time without recourse to a formal hearing. Upon satisfactory completion of the first year as a sworn police employee, the officer may receive a permanent appointment, and then can be discharged upon preferment of formal charges in writing, and has recourse to a public hearing before the State Police Board, if desired.

    E. GENERAL INFORMATION

    No applicant will be discriminated against with the respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment because of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry. The Indiana State Police adheres to all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Department will endeavor to select, hire and maintain in its employ only the best qualified applicants available.

    Employees are selected solely upon merit and without regard to geographic location, and must be assigned to those districts where additional troopers are needed. As a state trooper you are subject to availability for duty 24 hours a day.

    1. Authority and Work - Police employees are empowered to exercise full police authority in the enforcement of traffic and criminal laws within the state. Among the many and varied duties are traffic enforcement, criminal enforcement and public service.

    2. In-Service Training - All police personnel are required to attend periodic re-training courses. A re-training school may last for several days, and it provides a means for Indiana State Police personnel to review past training and to become aware of new developments in police work. Personnel also obtain specialized training at Northwestern University Traffic Institute, FBI National Police Academy, Harvard University, Indiana University, Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville , State Police Command College and other selected courses at the discretion of the Indiana State Police Department.

    3. Benefits -
      • An excellent retirement and benefit program is available.
      • The State of Indiana provides $14,500 life insurance. Additional coverage in the amount of $60,000 natural death with an additional $149,000 accidental death is available at nominal rates.
      • Group Hospitalization with medical insurance is available to those who desire this type protection, with a portion of the premium paid by the State of Indiana .
      • Uniform, ordnance, automotive and other equipment is furnished by the Department.
      • Police employees receive 12 work days annual leave with pay. Additional days are granted after 5, 10 and 20 years of service to a maximum of 25 days annually.
      • The pension plan offers deferred retirement option program (D.R.O.P.) that allows for cash lump sum payments of up to $100,000 upon retirement.

      Information secured through testing and investigation will be held in strict confidence. Applicants are responsible for all expenses incurred by them in connection with travel, etc., when reporting for tests, physical examination and interviews.

    4. Service Purchase - As an additional benefit, troopers can purchase years of service credit for eligible prior military service, Indiana municipal police officer service, Indiana sheriff or other Indiana county police officer service, Indiana State Excise police officer or Indiana Conservation Enforcement officer service. The purchased service will count toward the calculation of retirement benefits.