Become a Trooper

Join The Legacy - Become A Trooper

Our Mission

The Delaware State Police is a progressive agency, rich in tradition, that enhances the quality of life for all Delaware citizens and visitors by providing professional, competent and compassionate law enforcement services.

Do you have what it takes?

  • 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.
  • U.S. Citizen
  • 21-39 years of age
  • 60 accredited college credits
    or 30 credits with 2 years active duty military service
    or 30 credits with 2 years as a DE certified police officer
    or 30 credits with 2 years as an out-of-state Trooper
  • No felony conduct
  • Current valid driver license and good driving record
  • Physically fit

 

 

Qualifications

 

Become a Trooper - Specialized Units

Salary/Benefits

  • Competitive salary – During training over $57,000. After training over $70,000.
  • 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)
  • Take-home car with state-of-the-art information technology after 18 months
  • 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
  • Six weeks paid vacation a year with liberal sick leave
  • College tuition assistance
  • Deferred Compensation/Investment Plan
  • Tax-deferred medical/child care program
  • Blood Bank membership
  • Eligible for DSP Credit Union Membership
  • For those in the Guard or Reserves, State of Delaware employees are entitled to 240 excused military hours per year for military training.

 

About the Job

 

Become a Trooper - Benefits


Apply Now


Become a Trooper YouTube Videos

 

These videos are funded in part through the Delaware Criminal Justice Council by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, subgrant DB20-2907.

Delaware State Police Additional Information

 

 

Delaware State Police Hiring Process

103rd Recruit Class

Application Process: CLOSED 

Please keep a close eye on your email for your invitation and any updates.

104th Recruit Class

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Class scheduled to begin
in the Spring of 2025.

 

APPLY NOW

 

“How to Succeed: In the Hiring Process” Seminars

No seminars scheduled at this time.

Please check back for future dates.

For the latest information  Follow us on Instagram  @dsp_recruiting and Facebook @dsprecruiting.

Recruiting 2024 Calendar of Events

Below is the 2024 Calendar of Events for the Delaware State Police Recruiting Unit. A Recruiter will be present at all of the listed events, ready and willing to speak with you about your potential career as a Delaware State Trooper.

 

QUESTIONS

Regarding Trooper Application

Call (302) 739-5980

Email Cpl/3 Adam Jewell
Adam.Jewell@delaware.gov

Email Cpl/3 Kristin Carroll
Kristin.Carroll@delaware.gov

If you need to make updates to your application
Email dsp.recruiting@delaware.gov

Recruiting Outreach Coordinator
Marty McWilliams

302-672-5479
Marty.McWilliams@delaware.gov

Human Resources Recruiting Associate
Cindi Konnick

302-739-7846
Cynthia.Konnick@delaware.gov

Regarding Civilian Applications

Call: (302) 672-5473

or Email Michelle Koprowski
Michelle.Koprowski@delaware.gov

Background Investigators

If you are a background investigator, other agency requests should be forwarded with a signed authorization to release information to the Delaware State Police at dsp.recruiting@delaware.gov.

 

The Delaware State Police is an equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.


Cadet Program

Cadets

 

In 1998, the Delaware State Police Cadet Program was authorized under the enabling legislation of House Bill # 478, which passed both houses during the 139th Session of the General Assembly.

 

 

Cadet

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Age – Must be between the ages of 18 to 21 to apply and enter the Cadet Program.
  • Residency – Must be a citizen of the United States and a Delaware Resident.
  • Education – Must be enrolled in a Delaware accredited university or college in an undergraduate program (full-time or part-time).
  • Driver’s License – Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Applicants interested in the Cadet Program must have a sincere interest in the position and a continuing interest in the law enforcement profession. Cadets may remain employed with the Division as a Cadet while actively pursuing an undergraduate degree, either full or part-time, up until their 24th birthday.

 

Selection Process:

Applicants will be required to undergo the successful completion of:

  • Physical Fitness Test
  • Oral Board Interview
  • Polygraph Examination
  • Background Investigation
  • Medical Testing*

*Following an offer of employment, the selected applicants will be examined by the Division’s health providers for compliance with Hearing, Vision, and Weight requirements, and will be given a complete medical examination to determine if the applicant is able to perform essential job functions.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

The primary function of the Cadet Program, under enabling legislation of House Bill 478, is:

  • Enforcement of Handicapped Parking under Title 21, Chapter 41, Section 4183.
  • Enforcement of Fire Lane Parking under Title 21, Chapter 70, Section 7004.
  • Assisting with targeted enforcement efforts (i.e., red light enforcement)
  • Assisting with traffic control at Division-sponsored events. (i.e., Delaware State Police graduations, promotional ceremonies, etc.)
  • Assignment of various administrative tasks at troop/section level.

 

Notice

Delaware State Police Cadets are NOT Troopers and are limited in the scope of enforcement as listed above. Cadets are considered to be casual seasonal employees of the Division and thus are not entitled to benefits. Cadets will receive forty (40) hours of training at the Delaware State Police Training Academy prior to being assigned to a Troop.


Civilian Careers

A photo of different civilian careers in action.

 

The Delaware State Police employs over 200 civilian (non-merit system) employees who support the uniformed troopers by performing clerical functions, telecommunications, fingerprint identification, criminal history verification, victim services, automotive maintenance, administrative positions such as human resources, information support services and fiscal management as a well as positions in our crime lab.

The Delaware State Police no longer accepts paper applications for any civilian, cadet, intern or recruit trooper positions. Please go to www.jobaps.com/DSP, to create your new user account and select the appropriate application to be filled out. An official application will need to be completed via the online application website.


Telecommunications Specialist (PSAP & HQ COMM)

A photo of a Telecommunications Specialist at work

Telecommunications Specialists in our Communications Section work in the Public Safety Answering Points (911 centers and HQ Communications). They perform duties of answering emergency calls, relaying information to uniformed officers via computers, two-way radios, telephones, and ensuring accurate communications with other agency emergency responders.

View Full Description

SUSCOM, KENTCOM, RECOM & HQ COMM
Salary: $48,368.00 + $3,000 shift differential
$4,000 sign on bonus, paid in installments

Telecommunicator Test Preparation Guide

 

 

 


Benefits (Full Time Employees)

  • 12 paid holidays
  • 15 paid sick days per year (accumulative)
  • 15 paid vacation days per year (increases after 3 years of service)
  • Thirty year retirement with a full pension (early options available)
  • Health insurance programs
  • Medical and dental coverage available
  • Tuition assistance and reimbursement available for college and professional development
  • Employees Federal Credit Union
  • Blood Bank of Delaware membership
  • In-service training to include a host of free computer-related training courses