NEW YORK– The New York State Troopers are again looking to fill their ranks and signups for their exam will end this December – a test that most likely won’t be given for another two years.
To sign up for the exam or check your eligibility, go to www.troopers.state.ny.us or call 561-7400 for details. The last date to sign up is Dec. 1 and exams will begin in early spring.
A trooper’s starting salary is $50,374 with full benefits, and after 20 years of service a retirement plan is offered.
The agency holds the exam every two or four years, depending on a number of factors, including increased demands and attrition.
“It is a paramilitary structured organization, so you must be able to take orders, follow a chain of command and yet be independent, self motivated and able to handle all kinds of situations alone,” said local Station Commander Sgt. Elizabeth Wonka.
“With over 4,900 sworn members, and more than 1,100 non-sworn employees, the New York State Police provides a myriad of special services that include: aviation, dedicated interstate patrols, canine patrols, SCUBA, counter terrorism, crime analysis, forensic sciences, forensic crime laboratory, commercial vehicle enforcement, mobile response team (similar to SWAT), narcotics enforcement teams, violent felony warrant squad, marine unit, crisis negotiation teams, accident reconstructionists, drug recognition experts, mobile command post, major crimes unit, auto theft unit, firearms tracing unit, hazardous materials enforcement, and computer crimes unit,” said the agency in a release.
Wonka has served the New York State Police for over 24 years. She has seen her fair share of experiences including being sent to New York City in response to the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, taken part in State Police raids in Buffalo, New York City, Newburgh, Schenectady, Ithaca and Binghamton. She also worked two details with State Senator Hoffman’s civil rights group and escorted specially selected high school students to Mississippi so they could study the history of civil rights.
Wonka said she enjoyed walking the “Long Grey Line.”
“Most people assume it’s just in relation to the color of our uniform, but the color is more importantly a metaphor for the line between right and wrong, truth and injustice, crime and the law. Troopers are from all walks of life and we’ve taken our experiences with us, we know the world isn’t black and white, and we know in order to be a truly effective police officer you have to operate in the gray area. That’s really what our job is all about, our ability to perceive and act.”
Wonka said she had a common childhood interest in becoming a police officer. She had a “disturbing and bizarre experience” as a teenager at her home in Niagara Falls. She was threatened by an armed attacker just outside her home early one morning. She was able to talk her way out of the encounter and friends and family advised her to not go out alone any more.
“They told me not to walk to work or school; I often did, and it made me angry to think a thug could limit my freedom.”
While attending Colgate University in 1980, Wonka studied abroad in Switzerland, Japan, Germany and the U.S.S.R.
“I started to realized I wasn’t motivated by money and I wasn’t really interested in living in a city. I loved the New York rural setting,” said Wonka.
“I added it all together and the NYSP recruitment campaign of 1983 made sense,” she said.
Wonka has penetrated nearly every aspect of regular State Police operations. She received her master’s degree from SUNY Albany in 1989 as part of a special State Police initiative for professional development.
She was appointed to Bureau of Criminal Investigation as an investigator in 1990 and went to work with the Drug Enforcement Task Force in NYC . She was an original member of a new initiative called the Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET). She returned to Norwich and continued her uniform service as Sergeant in 2001.
“Why don’t I retire? Still feel I can make a difference,” she said.
“I can honestly say I’ve been challenged, saddened, inspired and I’ve had a blast throughout my career, and yes, I’ve even occasionally been bored. I would recommend that people who want to contribute to their communities or people who are looking for a challenge or anyone who is honestly interested, to at least take the test. How could it hurt? It just might change your life. It did mine.”
New York State Trooper Neil Case has served with the agency for just over a year.
Case completed two internships with two different police departments while obtaining his bachelor’s degree. Through the course of his work at the different departments, Case developed his initial interest in becoming a State Trooper.
“I realized how fun and exciting the job is. Every day is something different, dealing with different aspects of the job, and different types of people,” he said.
While at college, Case participated in division one track and field for four years and two of those he was selected to be the captain. Also a football player and wrestler in high school, he said school sports were an important part in preparing him for the future.
“The work ethic that I developed from these sports helped me deal with some of the challenges that I encountered while attending the New York State Police Academy, which is a six-month long academy in Albany. I feel that I came out of it a stronger person, not only physically, but also mentally.”
While working for a local police department, Case said he had an experience that helped him in deciding to become a trooper. Before becoming a trooper, he was working the night shift at a local department with his partner when three very intoxicated men began to heckle and disrespect the two officers. A State Police patrol car had been driving by and stopped to assess the situation.
“As soon as the three men saw the troopers pull up and get out of the car, they became very polite and respectful. I was amazed by the respect that was shown to the troopers.”
Case said he had always had a strong respect for the State Police and feels great pride in his accomplishment of becoming apart of the force.
“If you, or anybody that you know is contemplating taking the trooper test, do it. It is a great job. People ask me if I like what I am doing, and I can not explain to them how much I love what I do. Even if you are not sure if you want to be a trooper, I think you should take the test anyway. Leave your options open. If you get selected and you do not want the position, all you have to do is say no,” said Case.