NC Highway Patrol dealing with 270 vacancies as agency hits community college trail to recruit

The men and women who patrol the North Carolina highways need help to have more troopers on staff.

A closer look shows the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is using a unique recruiting tool to fill the ranks.

"The rank-and-file trooper those that you are accustomed to seeing on the road side, answering calls for service, that is where we need help the most," said Sgt. Marcus Bethea.

They need about 270 of these troopers to fill the gap across the state and many of those hard to fill spots are in rural counties.

"We are seeking out applications that are willing to be home and work in communities its a perk to the job," Bethea said.

The incentives are good, patrol troopers fresh out of training start at $55,000 a year and can make up to $80,000 within six years.

"It's a fun, great and rewarding career," Bethea said.

To target applications, recruiters are going into the 65 community colleges across North Carolina.

"Cadets or applicants can apply to Basic Law Enforcement Training in their local community college and attend that training, basically at home," said Bethea. "They are a paid employee of State Highway Patrol the entire time, including that community college training."

Those interested in a career with NCSHP can look here.