Hochul announces site for New York State Police Basic School Auxiliary Academy

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Cazenovia College was selected as the site that the New York State Police will lease for its new State Police Auxiliary Academy.

Her team said, “The additional auxiliary academy is part of the governor's plan to fund an unprecedented number of basic achool classes, which was announced earlier this year.” Hochul secured more than $66 million in the fiscal year 2024 enacted budget to fund two additional State Police classes.

"With this additional auxiliary academy at Cazenovia College, we can help ensure that the New York State Police is fully staffed with highly trained women and men to keep New Yorkers safe – a top priority for my administration," Hochul said. "This expansion will also create opportunities for more candidates, which will support the State Police's mission to diversify and grow its ranks. We're excited to welcome the academy's first class in October as they prepare to serve our communities."

A press release stated, “This unprecedented expansion will accelerate the rebuilding of the force and increase the number of troopers dedicated to protecting and serving the people of New York state. This initiative will allow the State Police to increase the number of community stabilization units around the state from 16 to 25. It will also bolster trooper participation in local and federal task forces like the Gilgo Beach homicide task force, a multiagency investigation unit whose work led to last week's arrest of a suspect in a series of previously unsolved murders on Long Island.

Acting New York State Police Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, "This auxiliary academy is vital to our efforts in growing our ranks and training the most qualified candidates possible to protect the people of New York state. We have traveled across the state over the last seven months, and explored multiple locations, and we feel the Cazenovia College campus provides a central location within New York and is best suited to meet the needs of our basic school training. We thank Gov. Hochul for her continued support and unprecedented investment in initiatives like this that strengthen our public safety efforts."

The leased space at Cazenovia College will be able to accommodate up to 275 recruits and 115 instructors. The firearms training and emergency vehicle operations courses (EVOC) will continue to be held offsite at the locations that are presently used. The first basic school class at the Cazenovia auxiliary academy is scheduled to start in October.

Candidates can learn about becoming a New York State Trooper and sign up to take the exam at joinstatepolice.ny.gov.

Applications for the New York State Trooper entrance exam opened on July 1, and individuals can apply to take the exam through Oct. 1. The exam is being administered online at authorized testing centers to make it more accessible.

The State Police has contracted with Pearson VUE, which is offering the trooper entrance exam at 54 testing centers in New York, more than 280 locations in the U.S., and 100 military locations around the world. Candidates can choose where and when they take the exam.

Hochul’s team said, “The online testing process makes it more convenient and accessible for anyone interested in becoming a trooper.”

A study guide for the exam is available here.

Minimum exam qualifications:

√ U.S. citizen

√ 20-34 years of age (the maximum age may be extended one year for each year of full-time active military duty – up to a maximum of seven years)

√ High school diploma or equivalent

Additional requirements can be found here.

Salary and benefits:

√ Starting salary: $59,612

√ After one year: $84,331

√ Full benefits and retirement

Hochul’s team said, “The State Police has redesigned its recruitment program to reach more potential female and minority candidates. This includes meeting with leaders in communities that are underrepresented within law enforcement, with the goal of building positive long-term relationships. The State Police has also taken the ‘30X30 pledge’ and is committed to increasing its percentage of female recruits to 30% by 2030. The agency has recruitment teams in each troop to network at events and within neighborhoods.

“There are many different career paths within the New York State Police, and many opportunities for every skill set – from its K-9 unit to the underwater recovery team, to aviation and the special operations response team.”