An Alaska State Trooper program to increase Alaskan interest in Trooper positions has been moved from this weekend to February 22.
Sergeant Luis Nieves with the Trooper Recruitment Unit said they have been working to increase Alaskan applicants for about a year with the Candidate Assistance Mentoring Program.
Sgt. Nieves: “About 70% of all of our applicants right now come from the lower 48 and we’re trying to correct that. The problem is that Alaskans historically are not interested in law enforcement or when they apply for law enforcement positions just have difficulty in apply for the position because it’s such a stringent hiring process to be a law enforcement officer in the state of Alaska.”
He explained that CAMP works to explain and demystify the Trooper hiring process to anyone 18 and up who is interested in a career.
Sgt. Nieves: “From polygraphs to psychological to how to fill out the background information and what the background investigators are looking for. How to prepare themselves physically, we then run them through a portion of physical fitness test, that’s why we ask them to come in with their gym clothes, that way we can see where they’re at physically and see where they need to improve.”
Nieves said the program was modeled after a very successful one created by the San Diego Police Department along with the local sheriff’s department to overcome their recruitment shortfalls. He added they have already seen increased interest across Alaska as well.
Attendees should bring their ID and gym clothes to the Emergency Response Center at 253 Wilson Lane in Soldotna on Sunday, February 22 from 1-4 pm.
For more information on the program you can contact the Trooper recruitment unit at 907-269-5976 or 1-877-258-7667.