Tennessee Highway Patrol Accepting Applications For Troopers

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) announced today it is aggressively seeking men and women who are interested in careers in law enforcement for a new Trooper Cadet Class slated to begin in the spring of 2011, if funds become available.

Applications will only be accepted from Thursday, August 26 through Friday, September 17, 2010.

In an effort to recruit qualified candidates, the Tennessee Department of Safety invites interested individuals to visit an Informational Session, Friday, September 10, and Saturday, September 11, at the THP Training Center, located at 283 Stewarts Ferry Pike in Nashville.  To attend, interested individuals must register online at www.appointment.com/trooper  to schedule a two-hour appointment between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.  THP Special Programs Lieutenants and other Department of Safety representatives will also visit events, festivals and job fairs across the state over the next few weeks actively seeking men and women interested in serving as Tennessee State Troopers.

Individuals interested in applying for the position of State Trooper must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. Citizen and have a high school diploma or equivalent.  No applicants with felony convictions will be considered.  If hired, individuals must obtain a valid Tennessee Driver License and are required to successfully complete a Level II background investigation, which includes a credit check and polygraph test.  Recruits must also pass a physical agility test, as well as psychological and medical examinations, including a drug screening.

Those interested in and qualified for the position of State Trooper should submit an employment application to the Tennessee Department of Human Resources for approval to take the civil service examination. All applicants must apply online at http://tn.gov/dohr/employment/career.html beginning Thursday, August 26, 2010, through Friday, September 17, 2010.  Applications will not be accepted after September 17, 2010. Current applicants on the register will also be required to submit a new application and take the examination.

There are currently 899 authorized commissioned officer positions within the THP.  Trooper recruits will be assigned to vacant positions across the state upon graduation.  The starting salary for a Tennessee State Trooper is $32,676 annually and includes other benefits such as a paid pension plan, low cost health insurance and paid holidays. Uniform, equipment and patrol vehicles are also provided by the THP. With regular pay increases, a Trooper can earn $48,564.00 per year after 10 years of service under the current pay structure.  Recruits are paid while in training.  The Trooper Class will last 18 weeks.

For additional information on becoming a State Trooper, visit the Department of Safety website at

http://state.tn.us/safety/thp/school.htm.

For more information about applications and testing, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Tennessee Department of Human Resources Applicant Services Division at (615) 741-4841.