how to become a police officer in Minnesota

About Minnesota State Trooper

The Minnesota State Patrol is comprised of 11 patrol districts located in Rochester, Mankato, Marshall, Oakdale, Golden Valley, St. Cloud, Duluth, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Eveleth, and Thief River Falls. Each District is divided into geographic work areas referred to as “stations”. There are a total of 61 stations throughout the state. The State Patrol has 730 total personnel, of which 511 are uniformed and 219 are civilian.

The Minnesota State Patrol serves current and future roadway users and assists other law enforcement agencies. Additional customers include dignitaries, state government, and other service organizations. Services provided by the Minnesota State Patrol on a uniform statewide level include:

• Flight Section: Assists the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies in activities such as traffic enforcement, emergency relays, surveillance, search and rescue missions and photo flights of accident and crime scenes.
• Executive Protection and Capitol Security: Provides security to the Governor and his family and at the State Capitol complex during various functions including the state legislature and other public events such as the Taste of Minnesota.
• Special Response Team: Assists the State Patrol in special events such as protests at the State Capitol and helps in search and rescue missions at the request of other agencies.
• Auto Theft: Investigates crimes relating to motor vehicles including title fraud, odometer tampering, auto theft and car dealership violations.
• Criminal Patrol/Canine Unit: Investigates drug interdiction cases involving motor vehicles and assists other agencies upon request.
• Safety Education: Safety Education Troopers provide education to the public in the areas of seat belt use, speed, drinking and driving and general traffic safety.
• Commercial Vehicle Enforcement: Provides staffing and supports services for weight enforcement through fixed and mobile weight programs, civil weight investigations, commercial vehicle inspections and school bus inspections.
• Training: Provides continuing education for Troopers and other law enforcement agencies in traffic related areas such as radar, accident investigation, DWI detection techniques and drug recognition expert training. Facilitates the State Trooper hiring process and the Trooper Candidate School.

ENJOY THE CHALLENGE OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER AS A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL

• Professional position with a unique employment opportunity.
• Affiliation with a proud organization and share in a priceless heritage.
• Train with experts and acquire specialized skills in many fields such as accident reconstruction, traffic enforcement, safety education.
• Receive top level compensation combined with the total package of benefits available to state employees.
• Opportunity to serve the State of Minnesota, your community and neighbors in a positive, constructive profession.
• Learn more today-explore all your options for a future as a Minnesota State Trooper.

A PROUD TRADITION

The proud tradition of protecting and assisting the millions of citizens traveling the state’s 12,200 miles of trunk highways and interstate freeways began in 1930.

Thirty-five men graduated from the first trooper candidate school which was housed on Patrol Chief Earle Brown’s farm in Brooklyn Center.

The sophisticated, high quality equipment utilized by today’s Patrol is drastically different from the equipment used by the first troopers. During the 1930’s and 40’s a trooper’s “normal” duties meant driving motorcycles in the summer and squad cars in the winter. Minnesota winters proved a real hardship because the cars lacked built-in heaters. Some troopers improvised by filling 10-gallon cream cans with hot water at local creameries and would occasionally stop along their patrol routes to “recharge” the cream can heaters.

Paychecks didn’t reflect the number of hours worked either. The first 35 patrol graduates earned $120 a month, worked a grueling schedule of 10- to 12-hour days, seven days a week, and had only one day off a month. In spite of the long hours, little pay, and an uncertain future, which faced the fledgling Patrol, there were always people waiting to join,

The attraction of Patrol work continues to hold true today, and its ranks now include both make and female troopers. These expertly trained, high caliber individuals are responsible for making the Minnesota State Patrol one of the most modern law enforcement organizations in the nation.

YOU TRAIN FOR AN EXCITING CAREER

The men and women of today’s Patrol are trained law enforcement professionals. When you are accepted as a trooper candidate, you’ll begin a 15-week instruction course given at the training center located in Shoreview, just north of the Twin Cities. An while you’re learning about this exciting career, you’ll already be earning a salary. Besides your salary, your room and board will be provided during this time.

Your training as a trooper will include the skills you will need to assist and protect motorists in their travels throughout the state including the enforcement of motor vehicle traffic laws. Troopers handle a wide variety of responsibilities, and when you are assigned to duty in one of the Patrol’s 11 statewide districts, you can be involved in:

• providing support and cooperative services to other police agencies
• promoting safety education through community projects and programs
• conducting search and rescue operations
• assisting with emergency medical/blood and organ transplant deliveries
• conducting motor vehicle inspections
• conducting accident investigations-Minnesota is internationally recognized for its accident reconstruction program, which is a method used to determine the exact cause of a motor vehicle crash

You will also receive training in many additional subjects such as criminal and traffic law, public relations, defensive tactics, communication skills and other vital areas which will allow you to perform your job with the highest efficiency.

The State Patrol provides continuing education for all troopers on an annual basis.

As a trooper, you will be provided with complete equipment including weapons, a patrol squad car, and uniforms for all seasons.

The Patrol’s continuous learning environment offers your more than compensation-it’s an opportunity to develop professional leadership skills and lifetime friendships.

ARE YOU THE ONE?

The Patrol is looking for certain qualities in the individuals interested in becoming state troopers. Qualities like pride, motivation, and a desire to serve in a demanding and challenging profession. One of the reasons that the Minnesota State Patrol has been able to main its high level of achievement and provide quality service to the people of our state is that competition for the position of state trooper is very high.

TROOPER CANDIDATES MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS

• be a citizen of the United States
• possess or be eligible to obtain a valid Minnesota driver’s license
• not have been convicted of a felony or theft in Minnesota or any other state of federal jurisdiction which would have been a felony or theft if committed in Minnesota.

meet one of the following by the start of the academy:
possess a valid Minnesota Peace Officer’s License OR successfully complete academic instructions and skills training in a law enforcement curriculum certified by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Board and pass P.O.S.T. Board academic and skill licensing examinations and the required first aid course for full-time peace officers; OR complete basic police training and be certified as a full-time peace officer in a state or with a federal law enforcement agency with which Minnesota has a reciprocity and pass the P.O.S.T. Board reciprocity examination.
Further information regarding such standards may be obtained from:

THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL CAN DO A LOT FOR YOU

• You can learn valuable new skills
• You can improve your present skills
• You’ll be serving your community
• You’ll be well paid
• You can earn advancement
• You can demonstrate your ability as a leader

Those who receive a qualifying score on the written examination may be called for an oral interview. Those receiving a qualifying score on the oral interview must successfully complete a background investigation, medical & psychological examinations.

If you are selected as a candidate for the trooper candidate school you will be advised when the school will start. Upon successful completion of the training school you will be eligible for appointment as a state trooper.

A three-step procedure for attaining a Minnesota Peace Officer license is as follows:

STEP 1: PROFESSIONAL PEACE OFFICER EDUCATION (PPOE)

• To become eligible for a Minnesota Peace Officer License, students must earn a two- or four-years degree from one of fifteen POST-certified Peace Officer education programs (list available). Interested individuals should contact any of the PPOE program coordinators for enrollment information.

  The coordinator can explain more about the program at that school and whether or not any previous course work may be applied toward their program.

• Individuals who hold a two- or four-year degree from a non-POST certified or out-of-state educational institution are not required to complete another degree program. These individuals are eligible to complete a certificate program of study which generally requires the completion of only the law enforcement education courses. Contact program coordinators for more information.

Participation Requirements for Admissions to a PPOE Program (Minnesota Rules 6700.0300 subp.5)

No student may admitted to a professional Peace Officer education program who:

1. Poses a serious threat to the health or safety of themselves or others;
2. Has been convicted of a felony;
3. Has been convicted under Minnesota Statutes sections 609.221 to 609.224 (Assault) or 609.52(theft);
4. Has been convicted of a crime for which the penalty was enhanced under Minnesota Statutes, section 626.5531 (bias motivated);
5. Has been convicted of a crime listed under Minnesota Statutes; section 214.10, subdivision 2a (crimes against vulnerable adults and theft);
6. Has been convicted of misconduct by an officer under Minnesota Statutes, section 609.43; or
7. Has been convicted of any of the crimes in this item in another state or federal jurisdiction, or under a local ordinance, that would be a conviction if committed    in Minnesota.

Minimum Selection Standards for Hiring a Person Eligible for Licensing by Law Enforcement Agencies (Minnesota Rules 6700.0700)

Applicants should also be aware of the Minimum Selection Standards for hiring a person eligible for licensing by law enforcement agencies. The following is a summary of those standards as set forth in Minnesota Rules 6700.0700.

The applicant must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States;
2. Possess a valid driver’s license or be eligible to obtain such in Minnesota or a contiguous state;
3. Complete a comprehensive written application;
4. Submit to a thorough background investigation;
5. Not have been convicted of a felony;
6. Be fingerprinted for background check;
7. Undergo a thorough medical examination;
8. Undergo an evaluation by a licensed psychologist
9. Pass a job-related examination of physical strength and agility; and
10. Successfully complete an oral examination demonstrating
    communications skill.

STEP 2: PEACE OFFICER LICENSING EXAMINATION

After successfully completing the degree program, or the certificate program, students must pass the Minnesota Peace Officer Licensing Examination.

“Violations of the following standards,” according to Minnesota Rules 6700.06001,” shall be grounds to deny an applicant to take an examination or to deny eligibility for a license.”

The standards are summarized as follows:

1. Making any false material statement to the board;
2. Communicating with any other person the examination;
3. Unauthorized reference to books or study materials during the examination;
4. Obstructing a board investigation;
5. Unauthorized possession of any board examination;
6. Aiding another person in the violation of the above standards;
7. Having been convicted of a felony; or
8. Having been convicted of a crime which would be grounds for denial of admission to a PPOE program. (Minnesota Rules 6700.0300, subpart 5.)

STEP 3: ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSURE

Students who have successfully completed the required PPOE and passed the Peace Officer Licensing Examination are termed “eligible to be licensed.” However, completing the education requirements and passing the licensing examination does not result in licensure. Individuals who are “eligible to be licensed” are not licensed until they are hired by a law enforcement agency and can satisfy the minimum selection standards listed earlier. In their hiring process a law enforcement agency may apply its own additional standards. The hiring agency also determines the physical standards its own personnel must meet.