Cadet Testing to Begin

Testing for the 56th Cadet Class of the West Virginia State Police will begin in June 2005. The State Police is offering walk-on testing dates for all applicants desiring to become a uniformed Trooper. Phase I of the testing process will take place at that time. The testing phase consists of a physical ability and written examination. Applicants are required to bring a completed application and photo ID. The two locations listed below have been chosen as walk-on testing sites:

June 2, 3 & 4 at 9:00am – The West Virginia State Police Academy

June 9 at 1:00pm – The Morgantown State Police Detachment

A Cadet Selection Informational Brochure, which outlines the qualifications, hiring process, salary, retirement, employee benefits, degree program and training, is available to assist in answering questions regarding the position of Trooper. Applications and the informational brochure can be obtained at any State Police Detachment in the state or by contacting our Personnel Section, 725 Jefferson Road, South Charleston, WV 25309, telephone, 304-746-2117. Applications and the informational brochure can be downloaded by logging on to our website at www.wvstatepolice.com.

State Police History

The West Virginia State Police, the fourth oldest State Police agency in the nation, was born during the second extraordinary session of the West Virginia Legislature on June 19, 1919. Each new trooper was initially required to bring his World War I uniform when he reported for enlistment. At the time, one of the specified qualifications was the ability to ride horseback. Riding horses was the Department’s primary mode of transportation in the early years. The Department later graduated to automobile and motorcycle patrols and eventually to air patrols (helicopter and fixed wing).

The first trooper, Sam Taylor, enlisted on July 24, 1919, but overall strength was very limited from July through September 1919. By the end of November, 121 men had finally been selected and assembled for duty.

State Police Today

Today, the Department has approximately 630 uniformed Troopers statewide and our mission remains the same - statewide enforcement of criminal and traffic laws with emphasis on providing basic enforcement and citizen protection from criminal depredation throughout the state and maintaining the safety of the state’s public streets, roads and highways. Pride, honesty, integrity, and professionalism are still the benchmarks for selecting candidates to serve as Troopers in the State Police.

Troopers today receive specialized training in many different aspects of police work. They include:
Field Troopers Snipers K-9 Handlers
Bureau of Criminal Investigations (drug and white collar crime investigations) Headquarters Administration Executive (Governor’s) Protection
Accident Investigators Computer Forensics Special Response Teams
Academy Instructors Crime Scene Response Teams Aviation
Cold Case Investigators Bomb Technicians Clandestine Laboratory Investigators


Testing in Phase I

Phase I of testing consists of a physical ability examination and subsequent written examination. The initial written examination consists of a comprehensive reading test. Applicants must successfully pass a pre-employment physical agility examination. The minimum passing scores for employment are as indicated:

SIT-UPS - Designed to measure abdominal muscular endurance. The score is the number of bent knee sit ups performed in one minute. The minimum standard for this test is 29 sit-ups.

SIT & REACH - A test designed to measure flexibility of the lower back and hamstrings, the test involves stretching out to touch the toes and beyond with extended arms from the sitting position. The score is measured in inches reached on a yardstick with the 15" mark being at the toes. The minimum standard for this test is a reach of 16.5".

PUSH-UPS - Designed to measure upper body muscular endurance and absolute strength. The score is the number of push-ups performed in one minute. The minimum standard for this test is 27.

1.5 MILE RUN - Designed to measure cardiovascular capacity. The score is in minutes and seconds. The minimum standard for this test is completion of the run in 14 minutes and 52 seconds.

The tests described are graded as pass or fail; acceptance is based upon successfully passing all four measures.



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