Donations Help Fund 67th Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Academy

After some time in limbo, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol received the green light for this year’s trooper academy. 

Due to budget cuts, the academy was to be put on hold, but the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and Oklahoma State Banking Department funded the academy. 

“In this particular case, we are looking at about $6.5 million to run an academy that would be somewhere around 60-65 cadets,” said Lt. Shelby Humphrey. “Understand that figure covers their first year of salary and all of their equipment.” 

The academy is no easy task. Recruiters said, in it you learn more about yourself than you ever thought you would.  

“We are going to induce stress in a controlled environment to prepare that applicant to the uncontrolled environment of the world that we are living in today,” said Humphrey. 

It’ll be a year unlike any other, as precautions are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. 

“Whatever (COVID-19) state we are in at that point, we will have a plan in place,” said Humphrey. “We will train these cadets the way they need to be trained to meet the standard we believe in and we are not going to let COVID stop us from doing that.” 

OHP has also changed the physical fitness test for the 67th academy. Candidates will now be expected to perform a 500-meter row and a 1.5 mile run. 

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy lasts 20 weeks. 

Cadets reside at the academy, located at the Robert R. Lester Training Center, 3600 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. in Oklahoma City, for the duration. 

A typical day begins with physical training, drill and ceremony, and inspections, prior to the classroom instruction. 

The evening hours are used for course studies, assignment completions, practical exercises, and preparation for the following day. The workdays for cadets vary from 12 to 18 hours. 

Cadets going into an academy are strongly encouraged to be in top physical condition. 

If you’re interested in filling out an application, visit the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s recruitment website.