Highway Patrol Cadet Candidate

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is an internationally accredited agency whose mission is to provide unbiased, professional public safety services through inclusion, collaboration, and innovation. The Patrol provides the following services:
Statewide traffic services to keep our roadways safe
Statewide emergency response services and support services to the public and the criminal justice community
Investigation of criminal activities on state-owned and leased property throughout Ohio
Security for the Governor and other dignitaries

As a Cadet Candidate, you will participate in a variety of law enforcement activities designed to expand your knowledge, develop your skills, and prepare you for the transition into academy life and your future career as a State Trooper.  Throughout the program, you will gain valuable insight into both dispatch and patrol operations, as well as the daily responsibilities and functions of a post.  Through hands-on experience and participation in numerous ride-a-longs, you will gain firsthand exposure to the profession, develop a better understanding of the expectations and responsibilities of a state trooper, and build a strong foundation for success before entering the academy.  This program is an opportunity to prepare yourself for the challenges ahead, strengthen your professional development, and gain a valuable head start on your law enforcement career.

Cadet Candidates will be assigned to a post mentor throughout their training, have no authority or police powers, and will not perform the duties of a trooper.  Cadet Candidates are not permitted to make arrests, issue citations, or confront persons suspected of criminal behavior, and will not be permitted to carry a firearm.  Cadet Candidates work a 40-hour week with paid time off, including vacation, personal and sick leave.  You will also qualify for the Division’s tuition reimbursement program.  Cadet Candidates are paid $19.41 per hour and are overtime eligible.  When eligible to transition into the academy as a cadet, your pay will increase to $25 per hour.  Upon graduation from the academy, pay significantly increases to $35.25 per hour throughout their first year as a trooper.