OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington State Patrol says it had the largest class of cadets in its modern history this year.
The News Tribune reports (https://bit.ly/2pmibCg ) 49 new troopers were sworn in at the Capitol Wednesday. The class size increase comes after state lawmakers approved a 5 percent raise for state troopers.
The agency says prior to the pay increase, it lost an average of nine troopers a month in 2015. State lawmakers have said they will raise troopers’ salaries by another 11 percent in July and 3 percent in 2018.
Patrol spokesman Kyle Moore says these changes will help the agency attract new recruits and retain troopers.
A 2016 report showed new troopers were making less money than new officers at Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and significantly less than new Seattle officers.
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Information from: The News Tribune, https://www.thenewstribune.com
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