Trooper Recruit School begins this week

On Monday, 60 prospective troopers reported to the Michigan State Police (MSP) Training Academy in Lansing for the first day of the 129th Trooper Recruit School. For the next 22 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. "As a department, we look forward to the start of a new recruit school," said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP. "It is our hope that each of these recruits will successfully meet and exceed the challenges they will face over the next few months, and we look forward to welcoming each of them to the ranks of the Michigan State Police in August." Recruits who successfully complete recruit school will graduate on August 26. In order to be selected to attend the 129th Trooper Recruit School, recruits had to pass a stringent selection process that included a physical fitness test, background investigation, and hiring interview. Since 2011, with the support of Governor Snyder and the Legislature, the MSP has hired 492 state troopers, bringing the total number of at-post troopers statewide to 982. The MSP is actively recruiting for future recruit schools. To learn more about a career with the MSP, interested candidates should visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs or follow the recruits' blog at http://msprecruits.wordpress.com. Published: Thu, Mar 31, 2016