At the Connecticut State Police Academy, students greet their instructor with near military-precision, standing at attention until they’re told to be seated. However, it’s staffing level projections that have gotten the State Police’s attention.
“We’re under a thousand now, and in the next couple of years a large number of troopers are eligible to retire,” explained Trooper First Class Kelly Grant, Connecticut State Police Recruitment & Selections.
As many as 400 troopers could turn in their badges by the year 2022. Last August, 26 recruits graduated from the Academy. This spring, there will be just 45 more, which means more people could soon be leaving the State Police than entering it.
“We have so many people that could retire that it could leave us in a hole,” said Grant. “We certainly don’t want to be in a hole because we are talking about public safety.”
Grant was quick to point out that right now, safety is not being sacrificed.
“Public safety is always paramount,” said Grant.
To make sure that never changes, the force is focused on its future. It’s started a recruitment campaign.
“You never know what to expect,” said Stephanie Cortes, one of 45 recruits. A former dispatcher, she hopes to use her science degrees to one day work in major crimes and forensics. She started at the Academy in October and plans to graduate with her class in May.
For 30 weeks, Cortes and her fellow trooper trainees are put through their paces. In one class, Cortes was sprayed in the face with pepper spray, on purpose. The lesson for her and the rest of the recruits was how to keep doing their job in the face of adversity. Her classmates have also faced k9s, tear gas, and grueling physical training. Grant said instead of the calisthenics she had to do in the Academy, recruits now do more cross-fit type exercises.
“You do need to be physically fit and prepared for any situation. You never know what you’re going to be involved in. You could be in a fight with someone or scaling a fence to save a child drowning in a pool,” said Grant.
“The level of intensity at the academy is I think the biggest shock,” said Trooper First Class Jason St. John, Training Academy Instructor.
St. John described the Academy like boot camp meets college: the coursework is both physically and mentally demanding.
“We’re going to teach you how to drive a car the way we drive cars, we’re going to teach you how to shoot guns, we’re going to teach you how to investigate crimes, we’re going to teach you pool safety and how to save someone’s life in the water,” said St. John.
“It’s definitely been everything I expected and maybe even a little bit more,” said Cortes.
She said her favorite part has been the academic side of training and learning the laws. The hardest part, according to Cortes, is the physical training.
Father of three Ryan Mara said the biggest challenge for him isn’t in the gym.
The family’s latest addition, daughter Aida, was born just two weeks ago. She’s the second baby born to a recruit this session, and one of a handful due before May graduation.
Recruits must live at the Academy for nearly eight months and only get to go home on weekends.
“The first couple weeks were definitely rough. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” said Mara. “Some people might try to say well I have these things going on in my life so maybe it’s not for me.”
After years as a correction officer, Mara hopes his persistence pays off as he pursues his passion for public safety.
“I knew that if I didn’t do this I would regret it, not just for a little while. I’d regret it for the rest of my life,” Mara said.
On Wednesday, March 6, the Academy will hold an open house at their training facility at 285 Preston Avenue in Meriden.
Troopers will be on hand to answer questions from six until 8 p.m. in an informal setting.
They’re also planning on administering a written test later this spring. Passing that is the first step to getting into the Academy, followed by a physical fitness test, polygraph test, physical, and psychological examination.
“From the minute we hire you and you enter the academy you have a job,” said Grant.
She estimated the salary of a recruit to be over $40,000, plus room and board. Once they graduate, troopers should expect to make over $55,000 per year she said.
