Military Academy grad.Ĭahill hoped to get 60 to 70 applicants for the accelerated class and plans to return to the legislature next year and seek another class of around 40 troopers to get the manpower level back to where it needs to be. Other troopers have previous education degrees from WVU, Marshall, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, and VMI in addition to the U.S. We have six licensed pilots, we have an attorney, and we even have trooper who is a West Point graduate.” “A large percentage of our guys have their bachelor degree, 18 have a masters, we have a guy who is going to have his PhD in May. Manpower 503 Pennsylvania Ave Charleston WV 25302. “I think it would surprise people,” Cahill explained. Get directions, reviews and information for Manpower in Charleston, WV. The reputation of the West Virginia State Police and the quality training at the academy makes a West Virginia trooper a valuable commodity to another agency. “He was the only officer, city, county, state, federal anybody out at 2:30 in the morning going out on an armed hostage situation with a guy strung out on meth for a few days,” explained Cahill.īut the loss is also evident in the eastern panhandle where federal agencies and surrounding states find West Virginia a fertile ground for recruitment. Although the trooper recovered, Cahill said he had no backup. Last year a trooper was shot on a call in Lincoln County. The manpower shortage in the agency is starting to reach a dangerous situation. But it also limits the potential pool of candidates since those applying must already be law enforcement officers with other agencies. The current class will be moved up a little faster since the class for which the department is now testing will be an accelerated class. “We used to be we had about one class a year and we have not hired anyone since December 1, 2014, so that’s well over three years now.”Ĭahill added with the time it takes for advertising, background checks, and training it will be close to four years before a new class is in place.
“We’ve had as many as 700 troopers in the past and today we stand at 613,” said Cahill on MetroNews Talkline. Testing for the next Class of the West Virginia State Police is underway and it comes none too soon according to the State Police Superintendent Jan Cahill.