GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Amid a nationwide challenge to hire law enforcement personnel, 15 recruits are joining the Nebraska State Patrol’s (NSP) latest training class. Among them is Ryan Painter of Springview.

“This is an important day for the agency,” said Captain Andy Ecklund, NSP Director of Training. “Over the next 22 weeks, going through the training academy process, we’re going to transform them from 15 civilian individuals into a team of trained troopers ready to hit the streets to protect the communities.”

The NSP’s basic recruit camp involves hundreds of hours of rigorous classroom instruction and hands-on training, including realistic scenarios designed to prepare recruits for the challenges they’ll face in the field.

This year’s class includes recruits from across Nebraska, as well as Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and San Antonio, Texas. The group is set to graduate in June.

In 2023, Nebraska State Troopers received their largest pay raises in two decades, with a 22% increase under a new contract. The pay boost addresses a wage gap between the NSP and other law enforcement agencies and comes as the Patrol continues to navigate staffing shortages.