Idaho State Police seeks troopers for Coeur d’Alene region staffing shortage
ISP says its biggest trooper gap is still in Coeur d’Alene, where a nine-trooper shortage has strained patrols across 7,750 square miles of the Panhandle.
Idaho State Police opened applications July 9 for its next trooper academy as it tries to fill its biggest staffing need in the Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston regions. District 1 is based in Coeur d’Alene, covers 7,750 square miles of the Idaho Panhandle, and oversees 1,472 lane miles from its central office at 615 W. Wilbur Ave.
That district’s workload runs from traffic patrol and commercial vehicle enforcement to a regional communications center, forensic services, criminal investigations and support services. The patrol division’s broader mission includes helping motorists, enforcing traffic laws, responding to and investigating crashes, and assisting local law enforcement.
In October 2025, District 1 was down nine troopers in Coeur d’Alene and District 2 was down 11 in Lewiston, and other districts had been filling shifts when needed. State police cited North Idaho’s cost of living and housing market as factors.
Recruits are paid while attending the 22-week Advanced Training Class in Meridian, and the agency provides lodging and meals. The program includes about 1,098 hours of training and prepares new troopers in traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, officer safety, ethics and human relations.
Applicants must be at least 21, be U.S. citizens, have a high school diploma or GED, hold a valid driver’s license and meet Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training requirements. They also must clear a background investigation, polygraph, medical and psychological evaluations, physical fitness testing and drug screening. The deadline to apply is Sept. 18, 2026, at 4:59 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, and the next academy begins in mid-January 2027.
Troopers with 0 to 2.9 years of service start at $30.07 an hour, with increases to $31.25, $32.40 and $33.68 as service time advances. The agency has more than 700 employees statewide and serves six districts for a population of more than 1.9 million.
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