Patrol Officer at Pennsylvania State Police
Former Marine officer lays down the law to protect fellow Pennsylvanians.
by Warren Duffie
What do you envision when you hear the words “state trooper?” Watchful guardians of the highways who enforce speeding laws and pull over drunk drivers? Brave and heroic souls who respond to accidents?
Such accolades certainly apply to the Pennsylvania State Police. However, this vigilant organization is about more than just highway patrols. It also operates as a sheriff’s or police department – investigating murders, responding to burglaries and theft, and mediating domestic disputes. When a trooper hits the road, his or her shift could easily play out like an episode of “Cops.”
“You never know what you’ll have on your plate,” says Cpl. Rachel Graham, a former Marine Corps 1st lieutenant who has been a trooper since 2003. “We’re truly a full-service police agency. For example, I’ve been able to serve on police details for presidential visits, protests, and events with outlaw gang presence. It’s a very exciting and rewarding job.”
A few months ago, Graham, 31, was promoted to patrol supervisor at a station in the picturesque rural region of Montoursville. She works either from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., or 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Graham begins each shift with roll call before poring through numerous vehicle accident, assignment, and intoxication reports. She also conducts performance evaluations, authorizes overtime, and, sometimes, hits the road herself to provide backup at a crime or accident scene.
“The skills I learned in the Marine Corps are so crucial to what I do now,” says Graham, a native of Butler, Pa. “This job is very high-stress, and you have to make snap decisions very quickly. You also need good people skills as you’re dealing with many individuals. Sometimes this job requires Dr. Phil-type stuff – counseling and listening to others’ problems, for example.”
On the Job
The Pennsylvania State Police comprises 4,545 sworn uniformed members, in addition to more than 1,600 civilian employees in 90 stations statewide. The starting salary for a trooper is $48,780, and benefits include medical, dental, vision, prescription drug care, life insurance, and an annual allowance of $500 for clothing maintenance.
“You can also receive a pension after 25 years of service – veterans can receive it after 20 years,” Graham says. “In addition, you’ll receive overtime and holiday pay. I can honestly say I’ve been very well compensated.”
To enter the academy, you must pass written, oral, and fitness tests as well as a background check. The academy — located in Hershey — lasts 29 weeks and consists of courses on firearms use, traffic stops, building searches, psychology, and self-defense, to name a few.
“Military veterans receive 10 preferential points on their admissions test,” Graham says. “We’re a paramilitary organization that’s a natural fit for veterans, and we’re always looking to hire more.”
The Transition
Graham served in Naval/Marine Corps ROTC while attending Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. An honors student and athlete, she graduated in three years with a bachelor’s degree in technical writing.
From there, she was commissioned as an officer and stationed in Pittsburgh and Quantico, Va. However, after three years she developed a physical condition requiring her to leave the military. Crushed, she returned home to Pennsylvania and got a job as a conference planner at Pennsylvania State University, where she worked for four years.
“While I was getting ready to leave the Marines, I thought about a police career and did some research,” Graham says. “But nothing came of it. However, one day while I was working at Penn State, I saw that the state police were holding a job fair at the university. I attended and decided to apply right there.”
After an eight-month application process, she was admitted into the academy in July 2003. Afterwards, she spent three years patrolling the Gettysburg area before her recent promotion.
“I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing,” Graham says. “The camaraderie is much like that of the Marine Corps. And I can help make a difference in people’s lives.”
Graham’s Advice
Choose a career that will allow you to avoid plateaus in your growth. Go into a field that will allow you to expand your skills, knowledge, and character — life should never be stagnant.
Keep all of your career options open, and continue to actively seek new ones. Do as much research as possible on those options, so that when you reach a decision point, you never have to second-guess yourself.
Don’t confuse your salary with success. Order your finances so that you can make your career decisions based on personal fulfillment, and not just the compensation.