Southwestern Pa. graduates 1st class from introductory state police training program

Trooper Tristan Fay had no idea what to expect when she arrived at the State Police Academy in Hershey.

Now, seven years into her law enforcement career, Fay wishes she had access to the introductory training programs state police offer today — Camp Cadet for middle school students, Hill Impact for high schoolers and Law and Leadership for those 18 and older.

The latter program graduated its first class of aspiring law enforcement officers from Southwestern Pennsylvania on Wednesday. All eight graduates plan to pursue state or local police jobs, Fay said.

“When I got on the job only seven years ago, let alone other troopers more senior to me, we didn’t have these programs, and social media wasn’t as prevalent as it is,” Fay said, “so I didn’t have these resources at my fingertips to see what I was up against.”

The 10-week Law and Leadership program is open to those 18 and older with a high school diploma or GED. It runs the gamut of state police training — including crime scene practicums, physical fitness tests, mock traffic stops, public speaking practice and a simulation of the first day at the academy.

“You drive up the big hill, you get out of your car, (troopers) yell at you, you have to have all your luggage with you,” Fay said, describing what troopers refer to as Day Zero at the academy. “That really weeds out the weak people, right then and there. There are people that get out of their car, hear the yelling and get right back in the car.”

Law and Leadership, Fay said, is meant to prepare aspiring troopers for the State Police Academy’s intensity.

The program only made Blair County native Sydney McFarland more excited to pursue her dream career as a state police trooper.

“I have my application (to the academy) ready and loaded,” said McFarland, 21, of Duncansville. “I filled it all out. As soon as we walk out of this church today, I’m pressing ‘Submit’ and I’m not going to give up until they tell me, ‘All right, there’s no way you’re going to do this.’”

McFarland was one of the eight young adults who graduated Wednesday from Southwestern Pa.’s Law and Leadership program. A ceremony was held at a Diocese of Greensburg chapel in Unity.

As a woman preparing to enter a male-dominated field, McFarland is grateful for the experience the program provided.

“I feel like these programs really help in a good way — ‘See, this job is made out for you,’” she said.

There were more than 4,000 state troopers statewide in 2023, but fewer than 10% of them were women, according to state data.

Two of the Southwestern Pennsylvania graduates are women, Fay said.

“I see these young females doing this program, and it’s almost like seeing a bit of myself in them before they’ve gone through all this,” she said. “And they’re lucky. They’re lucky to have this — not nurturing or coaching, but this type of guidance. …

“I think they’ll go into (the police academy) a lot stronger than I would have.”

Program graduate Michael Fryer learned about Law and Leadership while attending a career fair at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he studies criminology. Though the seemingly endless morning runs and circuits of calisthenic exercises were challenging, Fryer said he is better of for it as he prepares to apply to the State Police Academy.

“I fell behind a few times,” said Fryer, 20, of Apollo, “but I think we all uplifted each other and we were able to get through it.”

State police plan to host the Law and Learning program at least once a year in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Fay said. Information will be posted at patrooper.com.