DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A NEW HAMPSHIRE TROOPER?
Minimum Qualifications
A candidate must have at least ONE of the following:
Education: Associates degree or 60 credit hours from a recognized college, university or technical institute with major study preferably in criminal justice or the equivalent. Experience: No experience required.
OR
Education: High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent. Experience: Two years of experience comprised of any one of the following:
A) One year as a full time certified police officer and one year of honorable military service, either intermittently or full time, OR
B) Two years as a full time certified police officer, OR
C) Two years of honorable military service, either intermittently or full time.
Application Process
Interested individuals are directed to visit the State of New Hampshire Employment Opportunities page for details regarding available positions and the process for application submittal. Applicants must submit appropriate documentation (copy of official transcripts, proof of police certification, and/or verification of military service) with their applications to continue in the recruitment process.
Physical Agility Test
The physical agility test will be administered by the New Hampshire State Police and will take place in the Tactical Center of the Police Standards and Training facility. In order to participate in the physical agility test, you must have the pre-physical agility test medical form completed. Medical forms must be completed within six months of your assigned test date, and must be completed by either a physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner. Please do not submit your completed form with the application, rather bring it on your assigned test date and present it at check-in.
Candidates must pass each of the four events. The test has been designed to measure the ability to perform physically demanding tasks encountered in job performance. The minimum bench press weight, minimum repetitions, and maximum time allowances for each of the four phases are as follows:
Age
Males:
21-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
Single Bench Press *
1.10
0.96
0.86
0.77
Sit-ups (1 min.)
41
37
32
27
Push-ups
35
29
22
17
1 1/2 mile run
11:41 min.
11:58 min.
12:53 min.
13:58 min.
Age
Females:
21-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
Single Bench Press *
0.68
0.58
0.53
0.47
Sit-ups (1 min.)
37
28
23
19
Push-ups
OR
Modified Push-ups
19
29
14
23
11
17
N/A
15
1 1/2 mile run
13:48 min.
14:28 min.
15:13 min.
16:46 min.
* The weight that a candidate is required to bench press is computed as follows: Candidate’s body weight multiplied by the decimal found in the applicable age column.
Please note: These standards are effective beginning January 1, 2011 and subject to change upon receipt of updated physical fitness data.
Additional Phases of the Selection Process
Those candidates who successfully complete the physical agility test will be invited to a written examination that same afternoon. Candidates who obtain a score of at least 70% will be considered to advance to the comprehensive oral board interview and possible background investigation. All candidates will be subject to unannounced drug testing at any point during the selection process.
Once conditional offers of employment have been made, prospective appointees must successfully complete a polygraph examination, a psychological examination, a thorough medical examination, and an interview with the Director. The physician administering medical examinations will be selected by and paid by the Division of State Police. Candidates should be in excellent physical condition and take corrective measures, if necessary, before the medical examination date. No physical conditions can exist prohibiting appointees from performing the duties and responsibilities of the State Police Trooper I position.
Special Requirements
Age/Citizenship: Must be at least 21 years of age and a U.S. citizen either prior to or on the scheduled date of examination administration.
Eyesight and Hearing: Must have at least 20/40 in each eye uncorrected and corrected to 20/20 in each eye and have normal uncorrected depth and color perception; must possess normal hearing sufficient to enable performance of essential job functions.
Police Officer Certification: Candidates must be able to obtain police officer certification within the time frame established by the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council. Must maintain police officer certification throughout tenure of service.
Residency: Candidates must be willing to accept employment ANYWHERE in the state. With offers of employment, appointees will be assigned a troop area and patrol. Prior to completion of Phase II (Field Training Officer) Training, appointees must establish residency within their assigned patrol area.
License/Registration: Appointees must obtain a New Hampshire driver's license and registration within 60 days of establishing residency in New Hampshire.
Tattoo Policy: Candidates are prohibited from having any form of tattoo that is clearly visible outside the areas covered by the uniform of the day or by appropriate civilian attire. Areas warranting disqualification include the head, neck, hands, and arms (if the tattoo is exposed while wearing a short-sleeved shirt).
Character: A history of criminal or unethical behavior will cause an applicant to be ineligible for further consideration. Please read Information on Automatic Disqualifiers.
Salary / Benefits
The starting salary for the State Police Trooper I position is $48,235.20. Salary listed does not include $25.00 per week diverse duty pay ($1300.00 annually). In determining salary, prior service credit is available to individuals with full-time certified law enforcement experience at the local, county, state and/or federal level. When a Trooper I has achieved a combined total of ten (10) years of full-time certified law enforcement experience, he/she is eligible to apply for allocation to the Trooper II labor grade. Approval does not incur a promotion, as one is only eligible to attain the rank of Trooper II (Trooper First Class) upon completion of ten (10) years of service with the New Hampshire State Police and other applicable criteria.
Newly hired Troopers accumulate annual leave at the rate of one (1) day per month, and this leave can be used upon accrual. Sick leave is accumulated at the rate of one and one-quarter (1 1/4) days per month and can also be used upon accrual. Troopers continue to accrue annual and sick leave in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Troopers are also entitled to 12 annual holidays.
Troopers and their families receive excellent dental and health benefits. A group term life insurance benefit of $20,000 is fully paid by the State of New Hampshire. Troopers are able to increase this coverage amount through personal contributions. Dental, health and life insurance benefits begin on the 1st of the month following 30 days of full-time State employment. Please visit http://das.nh.gov/hr/hr/benefits.html for more details.
Troopers are enrolled into the NH Retirement System as a condition of employment. Contributions are made by the trooper and the State of New Hampshire. Please visit www.nhrs.org/ for more details.
New Hampshire State Police offers an on-the-job training program approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs, meeting all state and federal requirements for the education and training of eligible military personnel, veterans and their dependents wishing to utilize their GI Bill Educational Benefits. Candidates are encouraged to visit the GI Bill web site for more information about possible benefits.
Summary of Duties / Responsibilities
Perform traffic enforcement and law enforcement patrol functions.
Use firearms in stressful situations with high proficiency.
Assess situations to determine probable cause for search and arrest.
Intervene in disputes to restore peace and ensure safety of the public.
Arrest suspects, forcibly if necessary, and pursue/subdue resisting suspects.
Perform rescue functions at accidents, emergencies and disasters.
Process and transport prisoners.
Gather information and write investigative and other reports.
Demonstrate necessary communicative skills to prosecute cases in court.
New Hampshire State Police
Recruitment & Training Unit
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305
Phone: (603) 223-3866
Fax: (603) 271-2527
E-mail: recruitment@dos.nh.gov
Support Service Bureau
Recruitment and Training Unit
The Recruitment and Training Unit maintains an active list of qualified applicants for the position of State Trooper I. This requires coordinating and conducting applicant testing, which currently occurs three times per year.
Newly enlisted Troopers are assigned to attend sixteen weeks of training at the Police Standards and Training Facility. Upon graduation, the Troopers are assigned to one of seven troop stations, whereupon they are assigned a patrol responsibility under the daily supervision of a field training officer. Once released to solo status, the Trooper continues to work in a patrol function under the supervision of the troop field training officer supervisor. Close supervision and evaluation are critical during the initial phase of a Trooper's career and the Recruitment and Training Unit is closely involved in the development of an employee through the field training program.
The Recruitment and Training Unit is also responsible for ensuring that Division members are assigned appropriate training so that they may better serve the citizens of New Hampshire. Each Division member must attend at least eight hours of in-service training per year for continued certification as a police officer. It is the responsibility of the unit to register troopers for classes at the Police Standards and Training Facility, regional training with other state police agencies in New England, or any other available training venue. In addition the unit coordinates in-service training, firearms training, emergency vehicle operator training, prosecution training, and criminal interview and interrogation training, and serves as a representative to the New England State Police Administrator's Compact Training Committee.
Application for Employment
Applications should be submitted to the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Human Resources Section, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305, hr@dos.nh.gov.
