MSP trooper recruits start school

From the Michigan State Police:

80 prospective troopers reported to the Michigan State Police (MSP) Training Academy in Lansing for the first day of the 125th Trooper Recruit School.

For the next 21 weeks, between wake-up at 5 a.m. and lights-out at 10 p.m., the recruits will receive training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing and precision driving.

Because the school is a residential program, the recruits are only allowed to leave the MSP Training Academy from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Recruits who successfully complete the training will graduate on Oct. 4, 2013.

The department solicited over 3,000 potential candidates for the 125th Trooper Recruit School. Special emphasis was given to recruiting military veterans and certified police officers without employment. In order to be selected to attend the academy, all applicants had to pass a stringent selection process that included a physical fitness test, background investigation and hiring interview.

Another trooper recruit school is anticipated to begin in early 2014. Interested candidates should visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs for more information on how to apply.

As of April 27, 2013, there were 970 at-post troopers stationed at 29 posts across Michigan. Ninety troopers graduated from the 124th Trooper Recruit School on March 29, 2013.

The current recruits include the same number of people from outside the state of Michigan as there are from the Upper Peninsula. One recruit hails from Cedarville, while another is from Ironwood. The class also has one recruit from South Dakota and another from Connecticut.