Colorado State Patrol Cadet

Salary: $86,064.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: RAA 2026 CSP Cadet 2702
Department: Department of Public Safety
Closing Date: 12/13/2026 5:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Hiring Pay Rate: $7,172/month; $86,064/year
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: Michelle Chancey, 303-358-4687, michelle.chancey@state.co.us
Type of Announcement: A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Information

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS OF COLORADO.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5PM ON 12/13/2026 – NO EXCEPTIONS!

Our Mission – Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.
Our Vision – Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.
Our Core Values – Unity, Honor, Service

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is dedicated to non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

At CDPS, our culture is driven by our commitment to creating a safer Colorado and guided by a public service focus. We strive to provide effective solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans. We model a culture of collaboration, innovation, and growth for our employees. We maintain a professional and inclusive workplace.

Careers with a purpose:
If you are passionate about public safety and public service and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, consider joining CDPS. Our team at CDPS consists of exceptional individuals and is an environment where you can challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career.

We are committed to providing public safety services to our communities including safety on our roads, preparing for and mitigating environmental disasters such as floods and wildland fires, disaster recovery, combating crime, promoting school safety, and victim services.

Classification and Salary:
STATE PATROL CADET
Anticipated Hiring Range: $7,172/month; $86,064/year

Benefits:

We provide a wide range of benefits to our employees.

• Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.
• Eligible employees receive Basic Life and AD&D insurance equal to their annual earnings subject to a minimum benefit of $50,000 and a maximum of $250,000. Basic Life and AD&D are provided by the State of Colorado at no cost to employees.
• The State of Colorado’s Wellness Program, State of Health, is a no-cost, year-long program that supports an employee’s health and wellness goals. This program offers personalized health coaching, skill groups and more. Participants can earn a $20 per month health insurance premium discount.
• Through BenefitHub, State of Colorado employees have access to discounts, promotions and special programs from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, travel and entertainment venues throughout Colorado and across the country.
• State contribution into a Health Savings Account when enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan.
• Eligible employees have access to medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI).
• Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.
• We offer excellent retirement benefits including mandatory PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans. For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), visit Colorado PERA for details.
• We provide generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave and four annual wellness days.
• The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.
• Tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
• We offer Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits.

Description of Job

About the Division:

The mission of the Colorado State Patrol: By adhering to our core values, we provide modern policing services for all persons to protect life, peace, and property throughout Colorado.

The vision of the Colorado State Patrol: To create a safer Colorado through strategic innovation led by an engaged and empowered membership that provides visible service.

Through high visibility, strict enforcement, maximum resource deployment, and community education, the CSP promotes safety, protects lives, and preserves state highways using the programs described below:

• Traffic Safety – enforces motor vehicle and all other Colorado laws on 8,400 miles of highway and 57,000 miles of county roads, including selective enforcement actions, saturation patrols, crash investigations, and educational safety programs.
• Communications – provides a professional communications system for members of the Patrol, other state, local, and federal agencies, and Colorado residents.
• Criminal Interdiction and Automobile Theft – proactively investigates motor vehicle theft and related offenses, inspects Vehicle Identification Numbers, interdicts illegal drugs, and gathers intelligence to support state and national homeland security efforts.
• Hazardous Materials Enforcement – enforces permitting and routing rules, develops safe transportation rules and regulations, and provides timely response and mitigation for hazardous materials events on-roadways.
• Executive and Capitol Security – provides 24-hour security at the State Capitol and Capitol Complex, and security for the Governor, First Family, visiting dignitaries, and public demonstrations.
• Smuggling and Trafficking Interdiction Section – enforces the state’s human smuggling and human trafficking laws on Colorado roadways.
• Port of Entry and Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program – collaborates with industry to support safe transport of materials on commercial motor carriers in Colorado.
• Aircraft Program – supports traffic enforcement activities and transports state officials and employees.
• Victims Assistance – provides direct services to victims of highway traffic crimes in accordance with the Victim Rights Act.

Work Environment:
100% In-person position
Cadets will attend a 24 – 26-week training Academy.
The Trooper role supports a 24/7 statewide law enforcement mission. Work hours vary and may include extended shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, and emergency callouts depending on staffing and incident demands.

Description of Job:
This position serves in a training and learning capacity, receiving instruction on basic law enforcement services in accordance with the mission, goals and objectives of the Colorado State Patrol and in compliance with governing federal and state laws. The position will learn and demonstrate the ability to exercise extensive independent judgment in making decisions, that may include taking immediate actions with limited opportunity to consider various alternatives. Cadets must successfully complete all academy courses, including academic classes, physical training, vehicle operations, weapon qualification(s) and use of force to move to the classification of Trooper, within the prescribed training period.

This position will work under the direction of the Major and Commander of the State Patrol Academy and the qualified/uniformed & civilian/certified training staff. A State Patrol Cadet trains to become a fully functional State Trooper to patrol highways ensuring public safety by enforcing all state and federal laws pertaining to the traffic network. A cadet will also train to analyze trends and statistics in order to determine the appropriate enforcement process to be used in accomplishing task goals.
A Colorado State Patrol Cadet attends the prescribed training academy and must successfully complete every course. This announcement will be filling the Academy class commencing July 12, 2027.

A new cadet will immediately commence to the duties & demonstrate responsibility for his/her conduct, as being part of a safe and positive work environment, for sustaining moderate fitness levels, and as a student while in various environments (i.e., classroom, firearms training, fitness, driving track, outdoor training).
You can find out more about the Academy and Cadet training by clicking here.

Key Responsibilities:
Arrest Authority Training
The Cadet position receives instruction in the interpretation and application of laws and statues of the State of Colorado, laws of arrest, rights of citizens, basic criminal investigation processes and techniques including law enforcement ethics, witness interviews and collection of evidence.

Communication Training
The Cadet position receives instruction on the interpretation and application of the agency’s key policies, positions and strategies while interpreting and applying policy and procedures to the public in an operational capacity. Cadets receive instruction on the interpretation of the philosophies and programs implemented by the agency, on effective report writing and effective speaking. The Cadet position also receives instruction on serving as a witness in court testimony and providing accurate, complete and truthful statements.

Emergency Response Training
The Cadet position receives instruction to perform independently and to recognize immediate problems. A Cadet must make responsible decisions and take the appropriate corrective action without the benefit of close supervision. Training will include participation in simulated instruction in situations that are often stressful or dangerous in nature. The Cadet position receives instruction and interpretation in collection of evidence, participates in firearms training and physical methods of arrest training, participates in emergency vehicle operations training to include pursuit, defensive driving and emergency driving. The Cadet position receives instruction in enforcement psychology, enforcement tactics, and crowd control tactics, recognizing and respecting the complexities of cultural diversity, radio communications, and basic medical response techniques. The Cadet position also participates in a physical training program.

Technical Expertise/Training
The Cadet position receives instruction in necessary technical expertise to include but not limited to: use of patrol vehicles, firearms, use of force, arrest control, physical fitness, use of assigned equipment, crash investigations, officer safety skills, decision making skills, and current technology. Instruction is provided on how and when to effectively use lethal and less lethal weapons, arrest control tactics and tools.

Cadets must attend all assigned training and acquire all required certifications prescribed by agency written directives and Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) standards.
Upon graduation from the academy, Cadets become Troopers with a pay rate of $8,046 monthly.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet the following options for consideration:

• HS Diploma or GED (minimum qualification)
• Must be 21 years of age at the start of the Academy (special qualification)

Disqualifiers:
Only applications meeting strict criteria will be moving through in the process. There are specific disqualifiers which may be grounds for your removal from the application process. These disqualifiers are presented in the Supplemental Questions provided in this application.

Effective December 2020, the Colorado State Patrol Appearance/Tattoo Policy is as follows:

• Any body marking that is found to be vulgar, obscene, sexually explicit, gang related, prejudicial or which may otherwise bring discredit on the State Patrol or police profession, is prohibited.
• Body markings on or above the collar bone are prohibited.
• Body markings on or below the wrist bone are prohibited. Members are permitted to have one band, no greater than 8mm wide on one finger.
• Full Colorado State Patrol Personal Appearance policy (Download PDF reader).
• The Colorado State Patrol Tattoo Policy is effective upon the date of application.

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

• Previous law enforcement-related experience preferred, not required
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and consistent decision-making under pressure
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in changing situations
• Ability to work effectively with others and build positive working relationships in a team environment
• Strong command presence when required

Conditions of Employment

• Ability to successfully complete a background investigation, polygraph, physical fitness assessment (row test), pre-employment physical examination, psychological evaluation, and drug test.
• The background investigation is based on the following criteria, including, but not limited to: driving history, criminal behavior/history, alcohol use/behavior, drug use/behavior and integrity. If you omit any material fact on your application/testing materials, whether intentional or unintentional, you will be disqualified. If any disqualifying information is discovered at any stage of the selection process, you will be removed from consideration for the position;
• Vision must be unimpaired or correctable to 20/20 and must possess normal color vision, depth perception, night vision, near acuity, far acuity, accommodation and field of vision including peripheral;
• Must be able to hear and understand voice and radio communication either aided or unaided.
• Ability to meet POST criteria to become POST certified.
• Please note that residency requirements (e.g., maximum commute time or distance) are not uniform and are determined by the specific duty station to which you are assigned. You must meet the individual residency standard for that location. You also must be willing to go to any station throughout the state of Colorado.
• Must be available and willing to work 24/7 as needed. This includes weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, and in all weather conditions.
• Applicant must be willing to serve a one-year probationary period;
• Must be able to effectively communicate fluently in English, verbally and in writing;
• Must meet the standards of the Colorado State Patrol Drug-Free Workplace and Workforce policy including passing a pre-employment drug screen: Drug-Free Workplace and Workforce policy.
• Must possess current and valid Driver’s License.

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