Job Description
Job ID: 30541
Agency: Department of Public Safety - Highway Patrol
Location: Statewide
Salary: $30.08 per hour, plus additional $2.00 per hour night shift differential and $2.00 per hour weekend differential.
Pay Grade: L03
Closing Date: 05/02/2025
For more information on the South Dakota Highway Patrol, please visit https://dps.sd.gov/safety-enforcement/highway-patrol/careers .
The South Dakota Highway Patrol (SDHP) provides an exciting and meaningful career that goes beyond the highway. Today, nearly 200 State Troopers provide assistance, education and enforcement to state citizens and provide for safe, efficient movement of traffic on South Dakota's roadways. Troopers also investigate and reconstruct serious crashes, assist other law enforcement agencies, investigate crimes and serve as vital components of the state's homeland security. The South Dakota Highway Patrol offers certified law enforcement officer's a hiring incentive, expedited training academy and increased pay. Individuals not certified, we will train you for the position of State Trooper.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities, to include, but not limited to: Crash Investigations, PSD (K9), Criminal/Drug Interdiction, S.W.A.T., Drug Recognition Expert, Defensive Tactics/Firearms Instructor, Mobile Field Force Operator, EVOI (Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor), Honor Guard, Tactical Flight Officer (TFO), Highway Patrol Academy Instruction, L.E.T. Instruction, Protection of Dignitaries.
This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, run, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, crawl, twist, climb, and lift 100 lbs.; exposure to cold, heat, noise, outdoors, vibration, confining work space, chemicals, explosive materials, mechanical hazards, and electrical hazards; ability to travel to different sites and locations throughout the State of South Dakota.
Shift work to include, but not limited to: days, nights, weekends, holidays, on-call, and stand-by.
Applicants shall meet the following minimum requirements:
- United States citizenship;
- Must be 21 years of age no later than November 14, 2025;
- Possession of or ability to obtain a South Dakota driver license;
- Possess at least 20/20 binocular vision with or without corrective lenses. Color, depth, and field of view must be normal as determined by an optometric examination;
- Using the average of readings at 500, 1000, and 3000 Hz, hearing shall be at a decibel loss of no more than 35db in each ear uncorrected;
- Applicant shall be free of any chronic disease or organic or functional defect, as determined by a medical examination, that would impair performance of the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation;
- Applicant shall be capable of passing physical agility tests, push-ups, sit-ups, vertical jump, and one and one-half mile run;
- The applicant shall comply with the South Dakota Highway Patrol Tattoo, Body Piercing, and Body Modification Policy.
Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.
Licenses and Certifications:- Valid Driver License
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
- Current Certified Law Enforcement Officer's must provide current Licenses and Certifications.
- Out-of-State Applicants must provide current Law Enforcement Licenses and Certifications.
- Non-Certified Applicants shall attend the 13-Week Basic Law Enforcement Academy (L.E.T.) in Pierre, SD to obtain Certification. Following the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, applicants shall attend a 10-Week Highway Patrol Recruit Academy.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have: The ideal candidate will have uncompromising integrity, a strong work ethic, exercise good judgment and problem solving skills, and demonstrate an enthusiastic passion for law enforcement and a strong commitment to serving the citizens and visitors to the State of South Dakota.
Successfully complete a certified police academy. Learn functions and objectives of Federal, State, and other local law enforcement agencies. Learn basic principles of criminal law. Learn principles and practices of community policing. Learn modern police methods and procedures related to patrol, apprehension, arrest, search and seizure, traffic control, investigation, and identification techniques to include interviewing. Learn law enforcement theory, principles and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs. Learn State geography, public buildings, and businesses in assigned areas. Learn recent court decisions and how they affect agency and divisions operations. Learn self-defense tactics. Learn to properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with Federal, State and Local policies, procedures, law and regulations. Learn to gather, assemble, analyze, evaluate and use facts and evidence. Observe and accurately remember names, faces, numbers, incidents and places. Prepare clear and concise reports. Analyze situations quickly and objectively, and determine proper course of action. Act quickly and calmly in emergencies. Meet and deal with the public professionally, tactfully, and effectively. Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties. Exercise good judgement, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities, to include, but not limited to: Crash Investigations, PSD (K9), Criminal/Drug Interdiction, S.W.A.T., Drug Recognition Expert, Defensive Tactics/Firearms Instructor, Mobile Field Force Operator, EVOI (Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor), Highway Patrol Academy Instruction, L.E.T. Instruction, Protection of Dignitaries.
Benefits Include:
- 120 Hours of Vacation Leave
- 112 Hours of Sick Leave
- Paid Family Leave
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Employer-Provided Health Care Available
- State Retirement 8% Match
- Employee Wellness Program
- Take Home Vehicle
- Per Diem
- Night and Weekend Shift Differential
- $5,000 Signing Bonus for Certified Officers in and out-of-state
- Increased Pay for Prior Law Enforcement Experience
- Continued Education/Training
- Promotional Opportunities
- Paid family leave (12 weeks for birth and adoption of child, equivalent to 40 hours per week)
For additional information, please contact Lieutenant Brandon Akron at 605.773.2231 or email highwaypatrolcareers@state.sd.us .
Applicants : Please follow these application instructions.
- Submit an electronic employment application.
- Submit proof of law enforcement certification or reciprocity eligibility (if applicable).
Applicants are no longer required to take the South Dakota Law Enforcement written test as part of the application process.
All applicants selected to advance in the selection process will be notified by the SDHP and will be contacted in regards to their initial interview.
The SDHP has physical fitness standards that can be viewed at: https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/law-enforcement/trooper/physical-requirements/index.html .
Successful applicants will be required to undergo a background investigation and medical examination.
Applicants selected to advance from initial interviews will be required to travel to Pierre for physical fitness testing and second interviews. Dates and times will be assigned by the SDHP.
Applicants selected for employment who are not law enforcement certified in South Dakota are scheduled to participate in a 23 week training program in Pierre. (13-Week Basic Law Enforcement Academy, 10-Week Highway Patrol Academy).
Applicants selected for employment who are currently law enforcement certified officers in South Dakota or out of state certified or reciprocity eligible who have passed the reciprocity exam and skills testing will participate in a 6-Week Highway Patrol Academy in Pierre.
This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.
Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.
The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.
The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class B retirement under SDRS.
Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1BQ
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"
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