Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the reorganization of the Patrol’s recruiting efforts, including the creation of a new division within the agency. Effective June 1, 2015, the Career Recruitment Division will be established and placed under the Administrative Services Bureau, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO. The Career Recruitment Division offices will be located in General Headquarters.

Captain Roger D. Whittler has been designated as director of the Career Recruitment Division. The Career Recruitment Division’s focus will be recruiting qualified and diverse candidates for positions as troopers as well as for more than 60 civilian career classifications within the Patrol. These civilian employment opportunities include positions in Highway Patrol crime laboratories, computer technology, administrative enforcement, communications and clerical positions.

“Within the law enforcement community, the Patrol is recognized as one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies, but when members of the general public are considering careers in policing there are many choices,” said Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “We want to make sure a wide range of people from across Missouri are considering careers with the Patrol. I think expanding our outreach and visibility will help get more people thinking about becoming troopers and attract a broader group of candidates.”

Previously, trooper and civilian recruitment was the responsibility of the Patrol’s Human Resources Division. While recruiting has always been very important to the Patrol, employees also had other wide-ranging responsibilities within the division. With the reorganization, staff for the new Career Recruitment Division will exclusively have responsibility for recruiting a capable workforce that reflects the diversity of Missouri.

Colonel Johnson said the Career Recruitment Division will also work to cultivate partnerships with diverse groups and organizations that work with young people so that they will become familiar with the Patrol and its employees and build long-term relationships with the Patrol.

To make the Patrol hiring process more accessible, plans call for offering trooper candidate selection testing more often and in additional locations around the state.

“The Missouri State Highway Patrol offers a wide range of career opportunities both for sworn members and civilians,” said Colonel Johnson. “We want to ensure we’re being considered by all Missouri’s qualified men and women interested in a career in law enforcement and who can help uphold the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s vision, mission, and values.”

Those who are interested in a possible career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol are encouraged to visit the agency’s website at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov and select the “Careers” tab at the top of the site. Information regarding civilian and trooper career opportunities and current openings is found in that location.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol currently has more than 1,200 sworn members and more than 1,100 civilian employees in the Troops around the state and in General Headquarters.


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