ASHTABULA —
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is looking for a few good men and women to join its ranks, trooper and recruiter Alan Dunbar said, and will hire 180 cadets this fall.
“The state is recruiting for two classes of troopers, one in September and one in November, with 90 people per class,” Dunbar said.
Applicants must be 21 to 34 years old, a U.S. citizen, have a high school diploma or general education development (GED) certification and a valid Ohio driver’s license.
“The patrol looks for integrity, honesty and a sense of urgency in applicants,” Dunbar said. “Training is 20 weeks in Columbus, paid at $18.66 per hour.”
Training is para-military, Dunbar said, and cadets go home for weekends and all holidays.
A 1998 Ashtabula High School graduate, Dunbar said he was inspired in high school to join the patrol after his friend Ryan Tanner was killed by a drunk driver in 1997.
“That was a big turning point in my life,” he said. “Being from the Ashtabula area, I have a soft spot in my heart for the people here and I want to give them the same opportunity I had to have a rewarding career.”
Dunbar said his days as a high school track and football player and a track star at Kent State University turned him into a team player, which made him appreciate the atmosphere at the highway patrol.
“I like the feeling of working on a team,” he said. “That is the feeling at the patrol, like you are on a team and all working together toward the same goals.”
Dunbar said his friend Ryan is never far from his thoughts as he works.
“I wake up every day knowing I am helping people. I know I am saving lives and making a difference,” he said.
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