The Mississippi Highway Patrol is now accepting applications for Cadet Class 62.
Lawmakers recently approved a measure that would fund the training and education of applicants looking to join the MHP. The department is in desperate need of men and woman as many have left seeking other ventures or have retired.
“We’re allowed 650 (troopers) by state statutes,” said Capt. Johnny Poulos. “We currently have 475, but 150 could retire today.”
The new school hopes to graduate 60 officers, but according to Capt. Poulos, getting through the training is a tough task.
“The last school, we actually started 150 in the process,” said Capt. Poulos. “But we graduated 48.” Poulos latter added that “Are training is very rigorous. It’s mental and physical… It’s a tough job to be in law enforcement in today’s world, and they are going to have all the information they need in order to get prepared.”
Moving forward, Capt. Poulos hopes the state legislature will find different ways of handling the creation of a trooper school.
“We’re hoping there is going to be a funding mechanism in the future to provide for smaller schools that are not so expensive, to keep up with the attrition of loosing troopers,” said Capt. Poulos.
Applications for MHP trooper school will be accepted through May 31,2017 . You can picked up an application at your local MHP substations or the MHP headquarters in Jackson. Online applications are also available at www.dps.state.ms.us which
is the official MS Department of Public Safety website.
