MSP TROOPER CANDIDATE

APPLICANTS WISHING TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION ARE REQUIRED TO USE INTERNET EXPLORER, OTHER BROWSERS ARE NOT SUPPORTED.  

Any questions regarding to the Trooper Application Process should be directed to the Maryland State Police Recruitment and Selection Unit.

Questions should be submitted directly through MSP's Online Application Questions / Concerns / Errors Submission Form located at MSP's Online Application Questions / Concerns / Errors Submission Form located at http://mdsp.org/Careers/StateTrooper/HowToApply/TrooperOnlineApplication/OnlineApplicationSystemQuestionsConcerns.aspx
 
*The Maryland State Police Recruitment and Selection Unit would appreciate information regarding the success of their Recruitment initiatives. Please complete and submit the Trooper Applicant Interest Survey. Please note the survey is anonymous.

The position of Maryland State Police Trooper is a state-wide position. Troopers can be assigned and reassigned anywhere in the state of Maryland.

In order to apply, you must be willing to work in any Maryland county.

*You DO NOT have to be a Maryland state resident to apply. All applicants selected for the position of Trooper will be required to be a Maryland State resident prior to graduation of the six (6) month academy.*

 While the basic duties of a Trooper include investigating traffic accidents, issuing citations, writing reports and enforcing the laws of Maryland (see "Basic Duties", below), our Troopers do so much more.

The Maryland State Police offer a full range of police services to the residents of Maryland. Not only are we responsible for the major highways in Maryland, we also patrol and respond to calls within each county. In fact, the Maryland State Police is the primary law enforcement agency in many counties across the state.

BASIC DUTIES

Although many Troopers are assigned to specialized divisions and units, the basic duties and responsibilities of every Maryland State Trooper include: 

Enforcing the criminal and motor vehicle laws of the State of Maryland 
Investigating traffic accidents 
Investigating and completing criminal investigations 
Providing basic medical attention to ill and injured persons 
Issuing traffic citations and warnings 
Interviewing witnesses, victims and suspects 
Writing field reports 
Arresting and processing suspects 
Preparing cases for court and testifying in court
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Although no candidate is selected for immediate entry into a specialized unit, the Maryland State Police offers a wide range of assignments for experienced Troopers. After graduation, field training and initial assignment to a field installation, you may request reassignment to specialized units, such as:  

Accident Reconstruction
Automotive Safety Enforcement Division 
Aviation Command
Canine Unit
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division
Computer Crimes
Crime Lab
Criminal Investigations
Dive Team
Drug Enforcement
Executive Protection
Homeland Security
Licensing Division
Media Communications
Motorcycle Unit
Police Academy or Training Division
S.T.A.T.E. Team (SWAT)

Every member of the Maryland State Police is held to the same standards. In order to be accepted into the application process you must:

• Be a United States Citizen 2.     
• Be a resident of Maryland on the date of their appointment and while employed as a trooper    
• Possess a High School Diploma or GED (If you have a High School Diploma from a foreign country you must have your diploma checked for equivalency for more information please visit www.naces.org/members.htm.)
• Possess a valid Driver's License in any state and a satisfactory driving record, current driving record cannot exceed 3 points, in the event you exceed this requirement please wait to apply until you are at or below 3 points
• Be eligible to obtain a Maryland driver’s license and must obtain a valid Maryland license prior to completion of the police academy
• Binocular far and near visual acuity, with or without correction, must be 20/20 7.     
• Be at least 20 years of age but not older than 59
• May begin the selection process at age 20 and be accepted but must reach his 21st birthday prior to the completion of entrance-level training. (The Director of HRD may waive this requirement; however a candidate will not be authorized to carry firearms prior to age 21.)
• Meet the MSP standards of medical fitness
• Have a good reputation and sound moral character
• Not have any current court orders relating to domestic violence
• Be truthful in every stage of the application process

An individual is ineligible for initial certification as a trooper or cadet if the individual has:    Illegally used a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana for any purpose within the 3 years before application for certification.

Body Modification and Tattoo Policies

Body modifications that are medically necessary due to deformity or injury are not covered by
this policy.      

Body modifications covered by this policy include:

• tattoos
• tongue splitting or bifurcation;
• abnormal shaping of the ears, eyes or nose;
• abnormal filing of the teeth;
• branding or scarification;
• trans-dermal implantation of any object (other than hair replacement);
• gauging.

Prohibited body modifications include, but are not limited to:

• depictions of nudity or violence;
• sexually explicit or vulgar art, works or phrases;
• profane language;
• symbols likely to incite a strong reaction in the workplace (e.g., swastikas);
• initials, acronyms or numbers that represent criminal or historically-oppressive organizations (e.g., AB, KKK, SS, MM, BGF, HA, 666) or street
• gang names, numbers or symbols;
• body modifications of the face, ears and neck;
• teeth, whether natural, capped or veneer, that are ornamented with designs, jewels, etc.

Applicants will be screened to ensure compliance with this policy.

Applicants will be informed that, if hired, they will be required to comply with this policy

Equal Opportunity Employer:

As an equal opportunity employer, the Department of Maryland State Police is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.

The hiring process for Trooper Candidates is structured, rigorous and detailed. It is designed to help select those applicants who are most qualified. Below you will find an overview of the process. You must successfully complete each step to move on in the process. 

* PLEASE NOTE:   It is the goal of the Maryland State Police to hire applicants who possess the qualifications and the dedication to become a Trooper. Please understand that if you successfully complete all phases of this process, you MAY receive a Final Offer of Employment. Trooper Candidates are hired based upon the needs of the Department. Successful completion of all phases of the hiring process does not guarantee a Final Offer of Employment.

1. COMPLETION OF THE ONLINE APPLICATION TO THE INDICATED STOP POINT
2. ATTENDANCE OF AN APPLICANT ORIENTATION
3. FUNCTIONAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT TEST
4. WRITTEN EXAMINATION COMPLETION
5. SUBMISSION OF THE ENTIRE ONLINE APPLICATION
6. ORAL INTERVIEW
7. POLYGRAPH
8. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
9. MEDICAL TESTING
10. POLICE SELECTION COMMITTEE

The Maryland State Police offers a comprehensive compensation package for its Troopers. In addition to the starting salary (which begins your first day in the Academy), MSP also offers: 

• Salary Increases each year for 18 years based on the current Salary Scale. All steps must be funded annually by the State Legislature and are not guaranteed.
• All Uniforms & Equipment provided by the Department
• Paid Leave

• Annual Leave: 10 - 25 days per year, based on years of service (may accrue up to 600 hours)
• Sick Leave: 15 days per year (may accrue unlimited sick leave). At retirement, unused sick leave will be credited toward your monthly compensation.
• Personal Leave: 6 days per year
• Holidays: 11 days per year
• Military Leave: 15 days per year (maximum) for members of the Armed Forces Reserves or National Guard
• Health Insurance: the State Police subsidizes 80% of the cost of health insurance (PPO, POS or HMO)
• Family & Medical Leave: twelve weeks per year available for all Troopers to care for a child or family member
• Retirement: It is mandatory that troopers retire at the age of 60. 
• Troopers participate in a liberal pension program which permits voluntary retirement after 25 years of creditable service or at the age of 50.  Troopers with prior military service may be credited with up to five years of Maryland State Police time toward retirement after completing 10 years of creditable service with the department.
• Secondary Employment: Troopers who have average or above average job performance are permitted to engage in approved forms of secondary employment.
• Death Benefits: death benefits consisting of your retirement contributions (plus interest) and a percentage of your final salary will be paid to your beneficiaries in the event of a line-of-duty death. The exact amounts vary with your years of service.

The Maryland State Police Trooper application requires additional forms to be submitted with all applications.

Below are documents that MUST be uploaded and submitted with the application:

Birth Certificate 
High School Diploma / GED
Copy of Driver's license and Driving record from each state you have been licensed in
Selective Service Registration (if applicable)
DD214 Long Form (if applicable)
Truthfulness Statement *Notarized* - this form will be provided to all applicants after successful completion of the MSP written exam.
Authorization of Release of Information  *Notarized* - this form will be provided to all applicants after successful completion of the MSP written exam.
Essential Job Functions - this form will be provided to all applicants after successful completion of the MSP written exam.
Photos of all tattoos and or body modifications  
ONLY the below additional documentation should be mailed directly to the Maryland State Police Recruitment and Selection Unit located at:   Maryland State Police Recruitment and Selection Unit, 1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. 

Official College transcripts (if applicable) *one transcript from every college, trade school or university must be submitted*
Official High School transcripts
Certified Driving Record
If you have more than one page to upload, for instance a multi-page driving record, you must scan them in as a single multi-paged document. All files should be uploaded as PDFs. If you cannot upload the required documents, or have any issues with uploading the documents, please contact the Maryland State Police Recruitment and Selection Unit at 410-653-4348, for additional instructions.

As a note, the polygraph booklet form cannot, at this time, be uploaded and must be emailed to the Recruitment and Selection Unit at Stephanie.Allen@maryland.gov.

Application Completion Error Recommendations

If you are receiving error messages during the completion of the online application, please follow the below recommendations.

Ensure that the Internet Browser is Internet Explorer version 6 through 9
Save periodically using the Save Changes, or Save and Continue button
During questions pertaining to military service, only list the state when asked for the Unit Address
If you have any further errors please take a screenshot of the error code. Send the screenshot with details regarding your internet browser / version to stephanie.allen@maryland.gov.