Washington State Patrol Relaxes Drug, Crime Rules for Applicants

The Washington State Patrol is revising its screening process for applicants in ways that the agency contends reflect the realities of today and the demographics of tomorrow, the Spokesman-Review reports.

It faces the possible loss of more than 200 troopers and sergeants between now and 2017 through retirement, and it isn’t attracting enough qualified applicants to fill those holes.

Bob Calkins, a spokesman for the patrol, said the main changes involve several things that previously disqualified applicants, such as a conviction for being a minor in possession of alcohol. Say it happened when you were 16 and foolish, Calkins said, but now you’re a mature 25-year-old with a spouse, family and good job history. The patrol would give you an interview.

Previously, an applicant could not have smoked marijuana or hash in the last three years. The patrol has dropped that to one year, but will still ask how often you used the drug.