Delaware State Police and American Legion to host Trooper Youth Week in summer

The Delaware State Police (DSP) and the American Legion are set to host the 52nd Annual Trooper Youth Week from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20, offering high school students a unique opportunity to experience law enforcement training.

Trooper Youth Week is an immersive, week-long academy program designed to provide students interested in law enforcement with a taste of the physical and mental demands faced by police officers.

“Trooper Youth Week is important because it gives high school students, who have a sincere interest in a career in law enforcement, the opportunity to experience some of the training that a police officer would receive at the Delaware State Police Academy,” said Master Corporal Lewis Briggs.

Some of the highlights the participants will experience include physical fitness, patrol functions, instruction on crime scene investigations, evidence collection, learn about special units, and a weeklong overview of what DSP and law enforcement does every day to keep Delawareans safe.

“The goal of the program is recruiting, not just for DSP but for all of law enforcement,” Briggs said. “There are countless graduates of Trooper Youth Week, myself included, currently serving in different roles in law enforcement throughout the state.”

Held at the DSP Academy in Dover, the program challenges participants with daily physical training and law enforcement-related classroom instruction. Activities will include outdoor running, push-ups, sit-ups, and other exercises to build endurance and discipline.

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This highly competitive program selects students from a pool of applicants, and participants are guided by uniformed troopers assigned to the DSP Training Academy, as well as School Resource Officers from across Delaware.

High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are encouraged to apply. Applications can be downloaded from the Trooper Youth Week website or obtained through local school resource officers. There is no cost to participate in the program.

Interested students have until 4 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, to submit their applications. For more information or to ask any questions, contact the DSP at [email protected] or call 302-672-5457.