Mississippi State Trooper jobs in the state are under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Job duties include enforcing traffic laws on state highways and assisting local law enforcement in various criminal investigations.
Currently, Mississippi is undergoing an aggressive recruiting campaign in order to increase the number of Highway Patrol officers on state and federal highways throughout the region.
The first step you should take when applying for Mississippi State Trooper jobs, is to fill out an application. The agency will then review the application and then contact you and begin the process of becoming a Mississippi State Trooper.
Step 1. Satisfying the Basic Requirements
When considering how to become a Mississippi State Trooper, there is a set of requirements that fill the very basic standards for a trooper. Requirements include the following:
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Mississippi
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
Education: A two-year degree or four-year degree from a certified college or university is encouraged (although not stipulated as a requirement) and will give you a leg-up in the candidacy process.
Step 2. Physical Testing
Mississippi State Trooper Training requires that applicants pass various physical examinations. The physical tests focus on cardiovascular fitness, strength, endurance and agility. The tests are measured through a running test (to measure speed, endurance and cardiovascular fitness,) weight lifting (to measure strength and endurance,) and sit-ups, push-ups and vertical jumping (to measure all areas of physical fitness.)
Step 3. Written and Oral Examinations
The goal of these tests is to make sure you understand the basic rules of law and have the basic knowledge to handle the duties involved with the job.
Step 4. Interview Process
If you pass the basic requirements, you will then go through an intensive, multi-step interview process. The interviews include a thorough background check, a criminal background check and will include at least one interview with officials. The interview also includes a polygraph test among other examinations. If you pass the interview process, you will then go into basic training at an academy.
Step 5. Training and the Academy
Training requires you to live at an academy in a dorm-style building with fellow applicants for the Mississippi State Patrol. The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Academy (MLEOTA) is a 10-weel training course, which will provide you with certification in the field and allow you to enter the job pool for any law enforcement position in the state. There is a part-time academy and a full-time academy. Training requires you to take classes in the following areas of study:
- Law: Here you will learn everything you need to know about state law and how to enforce those laws in the proper manner.
- Patrol Procedures and Functions: These classes will teach you how to conduct day-to-day operations as a patrol officer. This includes what to look for while on patrol and how to conduct paperwork and other procedures.
- Investigation: This class focuses on how to conduct criminal investigations and how to assist local, state and federal law enforcement agencies when it comes to public safety and emergency situations.
- Human Behavior: This class focuses on the psychological aspect of law enforcement and how to communicate with people as a representative of the state.