Washington State Patrol Hopes Local Tryouts Boost Recruitment

Pierce County residents hoping to become a trooper for the Washington State Patrol must pass the first phase of cadet testing, which is scheduled for May 4, at the WSP headquarters in Olympia.

While testing has always taken place in Olympia, the Washington State Patrol is changing its recruiting strategies this year in hopes of boosting applications by holding the Phase 1 of the four-part application process in the various state patrol districts, said Trooper Chris Bendiksen, a WSP recruiter based in Olympia. 

The state patrol also assigned district recruiters, to give a local contact for those interested in applying, he said. 

Phase 1 of the application process includes a written test and a physical test that includes measuring height and weight, a one-minute push-up test, a one-minute sit-up test, and a 1.5-mile run. The qualifying numbers depend on the age of the applicant. For instance, an man under 30 is expected to do 29 push-ups and 38 sit-ups and run 1.5 miles in under 12 and a half minutes. A table of the standards is posted on the Washington State Patrol website.

Over the weekend, more than 100 hopefuls participated in the tryouts at Bellevue College. Applicants can take the written test if they pass the physical test, which is challenging for many. During Saturday's test, about 25 applicants dropped out during the sit-up portion alone, Bendiksen said.

About 2.5 percent of applicants will make it through all phases of the application process, which includes a polygraph, a background check and an oral interview, said Bendiksen. 

"So for every 100 applicants, we'll get two" who make it through the entire process, Bendiksen said.

While the percentage of successful applicants is expected to be the same, the recruiters hope to increase the number of people who apply, he said.

Nearly 175 people signed up for the Bellevue tryout, though some people were no-shows and others showed up on the day of the test without signing up first.

Click here for more information on the Cadet Testing Schedule.

Could you pass the physical tryout?

The following are the Cooper Institute Physical Fitness Test and Norms for Law Enforcement Standards which is posted on the Washington State Patrol recruitment website. There is a one-minute time limit for the push-ups and sit-ups:

Men:

Women:

Applying to the WSP

The Washington State Patrol recruiter in Pierce County is Trooper Guy Gill, who is available at 253-538-3105 or by email: Guy.Gill@wsp.wa.gov. Go to the Washington State Patrol website to find recruiters in other parts of the state.