STATE TROOPER FILING SET TO CLOSE DEC. 1

Start at $50G; Rise to $77G After 5 Years; Openings in Regions Just North of City; College Needed

The state is accepting applications for an exam leading to Trooper jobs until Dec. 1, the New York State Police said.

The test will be held Jan. 19 and 26, and Feb. 2 and 9. The starting salary is $50,374, which rises to $61,525 upon graduation from the Academy. The pay increases to $65,357 after one year of service and the maximum salary is $77,218 after five years on the job.

Openings Near City

Many of the positions are available upstate, but about one-third of the jobs are with either Troop F, which patrols Rockland, Orange, and Sullivan counties, or Troop K, which operates in Westchester, Putnam and Duchess counties. Candidates who score near the top of the eligible list can expect to be appointed within 8 to 12 months. Individuals can apply on-line at www.nytrooper.com.

As of last week, 4,000 individuals had applied, according to Major Michael A. Kopy, the commanding officer for recruitment. The employment campaign has been ongoing since June. The last exam was given in March 2004; the test is given every 3 or 4 years.

Applicants for the exam must not have reached their 30th birthday prior to the application deadline and must be at least 20 years old to take the exam. The minimum age to be appointed is 21.

By the end of filing, candidates must have a high school diploma or a GED. To be appointed, candidates need 60 college credits. Military experience or a basic police officer training course certificate can be substituted for up to 30 credits.

Must Live in State

At the time of appointment, candidates must be New York State residents and have a valid driver's license. Individuals with a criminal record may be disqualified.

Candidates must pass a medical exam, including a vision and hearing test. They also must pass a drug-and-alcohol screening, a background investigation, and a psychological evaluation.

The NYS Police has adopted official tattoo and body-piercing restrictions "in order to preserve a professional appearance and promote confidence in us from the public which we serve."

Under the new regulations, tattoos, brands, body-piercings and other body art must not be visible while in uniform. Candidates will be screened during processing, where personnel officials will determine whether an applicant is in violation of the policy. Individuals will have the opportunity to have the tattoo or visible portion removed at their own expense. Their applications will be placed on hold until the process is finished.

The multiple-choice exam will consist of true/false questions and rating scales designed to test cognitive abilities. The exam will gauge candidates' skills in problem-solving, reading comprehension, mathematics, and writing. The test will also assess candidates' attitudes and personalities.

In many areas of the state, Troopers are the primary law-enforcement officers and respond to all types of calls, including burglaries, missing children, assaults, and homicides.

There are several different specialties within the Trooper title. They include: patrol work, crime scene evidence technician, field training officer, K-9 handler, and firearms instructor. Troopers may be assigned to motorcycle detail, the scuba team, accident reconstruction, narcotics, and special investigation units.