My mom sent me some info on becoming a Indiana State Trooper and i was wondering if there are any here cause in looking for info.

Im in the military but im going to send my application out soon because they say it will take 6 month to process.

What is the Academy like?

Do you get to pick where you work?

Any other info would be great and as alwas thanks for read

Cody

Hey, I'm not ISP, but I work closely with a few of the troopers here in my county.  Since no one had responded yet I thought I'd throw in a few comments for you.

I know plenty of ISP troopers that love their jobs.....and a quite a few that don't.   While I respect them, I can say that I have never aspired to be one. They're are a very professional organization with some awesome training and equipment, but it would not be for me.  

ISP just has a different pace to it than most law enforcement agencies in the state.  Of course, you're mostly doing taffic enforcement and working accidents on Interstates, etc....at least your first couple of years.   All new hires go to the Indiana LEA and you're trainined alongside all new police recruits in the state.....we'll, most of them.  Certain departments/regions have their own state certified academies so many departments in those areas send their new hires there, but last I heard all ISP recruits go to ILEA.  You can expect about 16 weeks of basic recruit training there (I know that's the minimum for all non state police recruits)......but I also heard that ISP recruits continue on with additional training, so I'm not 100% on how much longer they're there.

When you finish the academy you are sent to Patrol.  You have NO CHOICE on your duty location as far as I understand it.   This is how it is for your first year at least.  Once you have a year at that location, you can start requesting reassignments.   You do get a take-home car if that's an incentive...but I've heard the pay is sub-standard.  Starting pay in my city/county for the officers and deputies is around $34k for the first year while ISP is more around $26k.   If you're lucky, that might have changed now.   While in patrol, I've heard that you can have opportunities to join regional swat/riot control teams, drug task forces, etc.  

The life of the patrol officer can be very boring as I understand it.  You work out of a central post that is responsible for several counties.  Any one day you might be responsible for working in a certain county.  You're primary duties include traffic enforcement, etc....and working accidents.  Most of the troopers I know also have radios for the counties they work in and can self-dispatch on any local calls they overhear.  A nearby county doesn't have enough money in their budget to keep more than 1 deputy on during 3rd shift, so sometimes the local ISP post assigns extra cars to the county just to "be there" incase needed.  

The ISP regional posts are also 911 answering points.  In my area the only recieve transfers from other counties/states that are for our area and occasionally a cell phone or two that is not routed properly.  Any calls that ISP takes from the public is usually routed to the local agency for handling....unless its on an Interstate or state highway....then ISP usually takes it.  

Another thing that sets ISP apart from local PD/Sheriff is that they can only enforce state and federal laws.  Whereas a local officer/Sheriff can enforce Local/State/and Federal Laws.  While maybe 90% of things we cite/arrest for are state, there just certain enforcement limits that state officers have.  (A common misconception is that local PD/Sheriff cannot enforce laws outside their jurisdiction, but in Indiana, legally, all sworn law enforcement officers have jurisdiction in the entire state and can enforce state/federal laws anywhere)

After some time you'll get a chance to move into different positions.......like duty with the Indiana Gaming Commission (Riverboat duty) which involves the enforcement of laws, investigation, etc with Indiana's casinos.  There's also a chance to work the Governor's Security Detail which I hear is pretty awesome.

Anyway.....Don't take my word for any information here.....talk with a trooper.  ISP is an awesome, respectable organization full of professional, respectable officers.  

Good luck with your career and thanks for your service.


oh...and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  

wow thanks for the info

cody

I'm not a trooper either but back them up occasionally.  State has their own academy at ILEA just for troopers.  It's approximately 6 months long.  After you complete the academy & field training you will either be sent to up north to the toll roads & Gary or down south to the boats.  After a couple of years then you can try to go to another county.  I've taked to a few troopers & they aren't too happy.  They are short about a hundred officers right now.  The one I talked to the other night was the only one working in 6 counties including Marion county.  They do pretty much traffic enforcement & accidents.  The pay isn't very good, but you do get to wear that cool smokey the bear hat (sarcasm off).  If you want to go out & kick ass & bust bad guys, look somewhere else.  If you want to write tickets & take accidents then ISP is for you.  I also heard that state lowered their hiring standars because they weren't getting enough applicants.

At only 26k a year i think i might look some where else thats about how much i make as an E-4.

maybe i will look into county or city.

Cody

Quoted: I'm not a trooper either but back them up occasionally.  State has their own academy at ILEA just for troopers.  It's approximately 6 months long.  After you complete the academy & field training you will either be sent to up north to the toll roads & Gary or down south to the boats.  After a couple of years then you can try to go to another county.  I've taked to a few troopers & they aren't too happy.  They are short about a hundred officers right now.  The one I talked to the other night was the only one working in 6 counties including Marion county.  They do pretty much traffic enforcement & accidents.  The pay isn't very good, but you do get to wear that cool smokey the bear hat (sarcasm off).  If you want to go out & kick ass & bust bad guys, look somewhere else.  If you want to write tickets & take accidents then ISP is for you.  I also heard that state lowered their hiring standars because they weren't getting enough applicants.

I heard they relaxed the 60hr college requirement.