The following information was found on the Alabama Department of Public Safety’s website. Go to http://dps.alabama.gov/Home/Default.aspx for more information.
• State Trooper – Not just a job…a great career choice.
• Job as a Trooper
• Is a Trooper’s Job Right for Me?
• Physical Fitness Entry Level Standards for Trooper Applicants
• What is State Trooper Training Like?
• State Trooper Pay Scale (As of September 2008)
• Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission
We also found the following article under the Newsletters section using the DISCOVER program. Many of you have an ID to this program and are able to explore other articles and access the many resources DISCOVER offers. If you would like more information regarding the career assessment program, DISCOVER, please call the Career Services Center (205.391.5874) for more information.
Highway Patrol Officer
________________________________________
Jim Smith has been a state patrol officer for five years. Men and women who do this work are sometimes called state troopers. Jim's particular job differs from that of a policeman in the city because he is expected to be familiar with and patrol an assigned area of the county. Working mostly alone, he provides a variety of services to the motorists who use the highways. Jim enjoys the challenges and responsibilities of his work, and has become well-known and a dependable friend to many people. As part of this occupation, he wears a uniform, carries firearms, drives a special car, and is trained to respond to many types of emergencies. In order to become a member of the state police force, Jim had to get his bachelor's degree and then be accepted into and successfully graduate from the Highway Patrol Academy.
State police officers are best known for issuing traffic citations to motorists who break the law. Jim knows this part of his job is very important because it encourages motorists to follow the rules. Reminding motorists of the laws and pointing out their mistakes prevents accidents. Jim is often called to accidents, where he may direct traffic, give first aid, and call for emergency equipment. He might take photographs to determine the cause of the accident, gather evidence in criminal cases, and write reports. He also appears in court as a witness when necessary.
Jim starts his day early. He is in the car and on the road by 6:00 a.m. Although his hours are part of a regular schedule, he is expected to be "on duty" 24 hours a day. Whenever he sees someone in trouble, he gives them help. His training has equipped him to work with minimal direct supervision, and his main responsibility is to ensure public safety on the state highways.
Today is a national holiday, and that means more cars than usual will be on the roads, and a greater probability exists that there will be drunk drivers and accidents. Jim will be on the lookout for those who are speeding, going to the scene of any accidents in his area, and possibly giving first aid to crash victims. By mid-morning, he has covered one crash involving bodily injury, called medical rescue technicians to take that person to the hospital, and answered a call from someone whose neighbor was threatening him with a gun. Later in the day, he will help with traffic direction at a large outdoor concert. Thousands of people will be arriving, and patrol officers will direct traffic flow towards the parking lots.
By the end of the holiday, Jim will have, perhaps, prevented loss of life and property destruction. His quick decision-making and good communication skills will have found help for people at accident scenes and stopped an argument from ending in a shooting. These are the results of his good training and dedication to his work.
There are other duties that highway patrol officers perform. They investigate crime scenes, pursue and arrest criminals, and inspect motor vehicles for compliance with weight and hazardous materials regulations. Officers are members of the community and often give presentations at schools and civic group meetings where they teach public safety. They also help with the training of new highway patrol recruits. Jim Smith is proud of his job as a highway patrol officer. He is in a special group of people who help protect the public from crime and keep the roads safe for travel.
