More patrol cars will be on Wyoming’s highways in the coming months after the Wyoming Highway Patrol successfully recruited more Troopers.
WHP is currently running two academies after an applicant testing held in September. The first class began Nov. 30 and consists of nine pre-certified officers from across the country. The second class consists of 11 civilian hires who began their career with WHP on Monday, Dec. 28.
One of the vacancies was filled by a Trooper who previously worked for the Patrol and left in good standing, and a second rehire is currently being evaluated for employment, according to a release from WHP.
The recent hires mark a significant decrease in vacancies within the agency, something that has plagued the patrol for the last two years. Vacancies have dropped from 35 to only 14 in less than one month. The decrease in vacancies is being credited to a plan that has been implemented over a three year period. In September 2012, WHP Safety and Training Captain Derek Mickelson identified a gap in recruiting and proposed that a position be repurposed with recruiting as one of the primary duties. That plan came to fruition in July 2014.
According to the release, the recruitment strategy has focused on increasing the information provided to potential applicants that WHP is hiring. Social media and other web-based platforms were used to implement the strategy as well as face-to-face and telephone conversations. Recruiting from all members of WHP also had an impact on finding applicants.
The Patrol has worked to maintain contact with potential applicants. This contact is maintained through a recruiting roster that currently has over 1,300 potential applicants listed.
In addition, recruiting for Trooper vacancies has helped to fill vacancies with WHP Dispatch and Port of Entry Officer positions.