Delaware State Police

Candidates must meet the following requirements prior to submitting an application:

Citizenship - Applicant must be a United States citizen.

Age - Applicants must reach their 21st birthday prior to completion of the Academy training, and must not be older than 39 on the first day of the Academy.

Education - Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, and must have attained a minimum of 60 semester credits, or 90 quarter credits, from an accredited college or university OR one that is recognized by the U. S. Department of Higher Education OR 30 college credits along with two years of active duty military service.

An applicant with 30 college credits and any of the below-listed experience will be eligible for an accelerated Academy curriculum:

• Two years (post-training) as a full-time, Delaware-certified police officer.
• Or two years of full-time (post-training) experience as a state trooper from another state, having completed a paramilitary live-in state training academy.

(To compete for the rank of Sergeant, 60 college credits are required. A Bachelor's Degree is required to compete for the ranks of Lieutenant and above.)

Residence - There is no residency requirement at time of application. However, Delaware residency is required by the completion of the academy training, prior to field training. Troopers are subject to assignment in any part of the state.

Driver's License - Applicants must have a current valid driver's license and at least one year of driving experience. An applicant with a prior driving suspension or revocation must have one year of reinstatement in order to be eligible to apply. Any alcohol-related driving arrests and overall driving history will be subject to review.

Criminal Record and Activity - Any felony conviction is an automatic disqualification. Any criminal activity that would be considered a felony under Delaware law, federal law, or the law of the state in which the activity occurred is a disqualification. Applicants must have all prior criminal arrests expunged before being hired. (Arrest or conviction for all other crimes and offenses are subject to evaluation).

Drug Usage - Any use of an illegal drug will be subject to review at the time the application is submitted, any prior use of a hallucinogenic drug, will be an automatic disqualification. All other drug use, including illegally using prescribed drugs, is subject to review.

*Weight - Weight must be in compliance with the Delaware State Police weight chart or maximum allowed body fat percentage. (See Weight Standards under the Important Documents link at the bottom of the page.)

*Hearing - Normal hearing.

*Vision - Visual acuity can be no worse than 20/40 in each eye, uncorrected, and must be corrected to 20/20 with glasses or gas permeable contacts; or no worse than 20/200 in each eye uncorrected and must be corrected to 20/20 with soft contacts lenses only. Normal color vision and normal depth perception are required.

*(Following an offer of employment, the selected applicants will be examined by the Division's heath providers for compliance with the above requirements, and will be given a complete medical examination to determine if the applicant is able to perform essential job functions.)

To perform the duties of State Trooper, an applicant must demonstrate good judgment, thoroughness, conscientiousness, common sense, motivation, and enthusiasm for the job. Troopers must be dependable and willing to get involved in order to help deal with the problems of today's society. Troopers must be able to assume responsibility, make decisions often under pressure, work without supervision, follow orders, function in physical danger, act under pressure, communicate well, and combine physical and mental resources.

Duties and Responsibilities - A Delaware State Trooper performs the following duties of patrol, investigation, troop duties, maintenance activities, and special assignments:

• Patrol duties involve directing traffic, assisting lost, stranded or disabled motorists, approaching motorists on routine or non-routine violations, making arrests, processing prisoners, controlling crowds, and supporting other troopers in stressful situations. Other patrol duties involve inspecting and safeguarding property, responding to bank alarms, chasing violators on foot, and checking buildings at night for burglaries. Investigative duties include interviewing complainants and witnesses, interrogating suspects, aiding injured people, handling motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes, responding to complaints involving vicious animals, using deadly force, and executing search and seizure warrants, as well as arrest warrants.
• Troopers are required to perform troop duties such as sending and receiving radio, phone and electronic messages; maintaining troop records, responding to telephone inquires concerning such things as road conditions, locations, and the law; and preparing written memoranda and reports.
• Troopers must maintain a good personal appearance and physical condition. Troopers are tested on a regular basis throughout their career to ensure they maintain sufficient aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, coordination, flexibility, percentage of body fat, and sufficient levels of neurological senses to safety and effectively perform job functions. Other responsibilities include proper care of division equipment, uniforms, and vehicles; and maintaining a clean and orderly troop.
• Assignments are varied and may include testifying in court, securing major disaster areas, participating in community and public relations programs, escorting dignitaries, conducting speeches or lectures, training recruits and or counseling youth. Scheduling includes working weekends, holidays, overtime, and in inclement weather. Assignments may be physically demanding including shift work. Patrol officers normally work a 12-hour rotating shift, working a maximum of 3 consecutive days. Troopers are frequently required to either substantially delay or forego regular meals.

The duties of a trooper may become unpredictably hazardous and require acute use of senses to discern various stimuli of danger. Troopers typically operate alone, and backup assistance is frequently not immediately available. Troopers are often required, without preparation, to run long distances, traverse rough terrain quickly, climb obstacles, remove injured or unconscious people from harm's way, engage in physical confrontations using offensive and defensive tactics to subdue combative individuals, and to effect forceful arrests.

The Delaware State Police is hosting their How to Succeed in the DSP Hiring Process Seminars for applicants of the 92nd Recruit Class. The seminar is not mandatory; however applicants are encouraged to attend to learn more about the Delaware State Police and the hiring process.

Anyone wishing to attend the seminars can email tyler.wright@state.de.us with the date they wish to attend.  Please apply as soon as possible, in order to have your application processed before the application deadline.

Did you know?  A survey of State Police recruits who were hired revealed that 80% of these recruits attended a 'How to Succeed in the Hiring Process' seminar and used the study guide that can be found on our website www.becomeatrooper.com

The Delaware State Police will be hosting our "How To Succeed in the Hiring Process Seminars" on  

Trooper Recruiters Email:

Cpl/3 Stanley Jiminez - stanley.jiminez@state.de.us or Call 302-672-5471

Corporal Tyler Wright - tyler.wright@state.de.us or Call 302-672-5478

Salary/Benefits

• Competitive salary - During training over $48,000. After training over, $57,000.
• Excellent pension plan - (Mandatory retirement at 55, the option to retire at 20 years, further details are available upon request or should be referred to the Pension Office and/or their website)
• 12-hour shifts with option of standby status for court.
• State-share health insurance.
• Division-issued equipment and uniforms, with dry cleaning delivered to the troop.
• Liberal vacation and sick leave.
• College tuition assistance.
• Take-home car with state-of-the-art information technology after 18 months.
• Deferred Compensation/Investment Plan.
• Tax-deferred medical/child care program.
• Blood Bank membership.
• Eligible membership for employee's credit union.