While many believe that the main goal of the California Highway Patrol is to catch speeders, issue tickets, and solely monitor highways, their responsibilities include more diverse tasks. These include serving as safety dispatchers, helicopter pilots, and officers. All these duties align with the California Highway Patrol’s mission statement to guarantee the highest level of safety, service, and security for California residents.
These five departmental goals are how the accomplishment is achieved.
- Prevent Loss of Life, Injuries, and Property Damage – To minimize the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage resulting from traffic collisions through enforcement, education, and engineering. To enforce the provisions of the California Vehicle Code and other laws to prevent crime.
- Maximize Service to the Public and Assistance to Allied Agencies – To maximize service to the public in need of aid or information, and to assist other public agencies when appropriate.
- Manage Traffic and Emergency Incidents – To promote the safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout California, and to minimize exposure of the public to unsafe conditions resulting from emergency incidents and highway impediments.
- Protect Public and State Assets – To protect the public, their property, state employees, and the state’s infrastructure. To collaborate with local, state, and federal public safety agencies to protect California.
- Improve Departmental Efficiency – To continuously look for ways to increase the efficiency and/or effectiveness of departmental operations.
The California Highway Patrol is a state agency appointed in 2008 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and is headed by Commissioner Joseph A. Farrow and Deputy Commissioner R. C. Prieto. The agency also includes various positions such as Assistant Commissioner, Chief, Assistant Chief, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Officer, and Cadet.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is a statewide organization that provides law enforcement services in traffic safety, DUI checkpoints, accidents, and homicides primarily on highways. It has eight divisions throughout California, including the Administrative Services Division responsible for the academy, State Security Division, Protective Service Division, and others. Although there has been a hiring freeze for some time, the CHP is currently conducting a few academies. The testing process for new recruits recently reopened but then closed again.
During the written testing phase, we were informed that no further applications would be accepted for the following three years. I was particularly interested in joining the California Highway Patrol because of their unique selection process. To be eligible for membership in the California Highway Patrol, certain requirements must be met. These include being between 20 and 35 years old, passing a standard eye exam, having good overall health with no physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. In terms of education, one must have either a high school diploma, GED certificate, or pass the California High School Proficiency Examination. It is also crucial to have no felony convictions.
Applicants must first pass a written test, which includes reading comprehension, spelling, word knowledge, and a fill in the blank section. If successful, they will have the chance to take a more demanding physical abilities test. This modification was made to address the high dropout rate among applicants due to the physical requirements. Once the physical test is completed, applicants will undergo a QAP session where they will be questioned about their personal history and presented with scenarios to assess their responses and assign a score based on impressions.
If you pass the background check and psychological exam, as well as the challenging physical ability test, you will begin your journey at the academy. What drew me to the California Highway Patrol is that while attending the academy, you are hired as a cadet. Upon graduation, you are guaranteed a job, typically in less desirable areas. To be honest, I haven’t fully decided on my career path yet, but I am inclined towards pursuing a career in the California Highway Patrol.
