Want to become a trooper? Learn and earn with our LETO program

From escaping the horrors of civil war as a child to finding hope and purpose in saving lives on the roads to leaving law school to pursue a true passion on the front-lines of law enforcement — these are just a few of the powerful stories of troopers who found their way to the Minnesota State Patrol through the Law Enforcement Training Opportunity (LETO) program. LETO is designed to provide a pathway for people to become a trooper, even if they do not have a degree in law enforcement. 

“LETO applicants come from all walks of life — from stay-at-home parents reentering the workforce to those wanting to trade in office life for a more exciting and fulfilling job,” said State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic. “No matter what background they came from, they share one common goal — helping others through public service and making our roadways safer.”

LETO success stories

From refugee to trooper

For Trooper Wade Chit, his journey to the badge started half a world away; he was born in Myanmar. His family fled to St. Paul as refugees from a civil war when he was still a child. When Chit graduated with a master’s degree in criminal justice and leadership, he started researching a career in law enforcement and discovered the LETO program.

“I originally never thought about joining the Minnesota State Patrol, but then it became a calling, and now I’m glad I did,” Chit said. “Doing this job will also prepare you for other things in the future. I can go into K-9, crash reconstruction and commercial vehicle inspections, so there are a lot of things I can do.”

Chit now works overnights in the East Metro District, where much of his time patrolling is spent taking impaired drivers off the road. He also hopes to be a bridge between law enforcement and other families who fled to the U.S. from Myanmar.

“There are a lot of Karen people who live in the Twin Cities,” said Chit. “That’s one of the reasons why I like working in St. Paul. I want to be an outreach resource for law enforcement to help build relationships with the Karen community.”

From law student to trooper

Another trooper, Vince Wren, was a law student studying to become a prosecutor. That goal changed when he applied to the LETO program after deciding he wanted a career with more action.

 “I wanted a more dynamic and fast-paced work environment than sitting at a desk,” Wren explained. “I stumbled upon the state patrol’s LETO program and that gave me the opportunity to continue on with my schooling, with the patrol paying for it.” 

Growing up, Wren’s mother worked as a police officer for the city of Forest Lake. Now he’s carrying on that family tradition of serving the public through law enforcement. 

“Whether it be a traffic stop or a crash, there’s just so much gratitude and appreciation for us being there and helping people through really tough situations,” Wren said.

LETO information and timeline

Apply for the LETO program from now until March 30.

To apply, you must have a two- or four-year degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university. If you are accepted, LETO participants earn 80 percent of a trooper’s starting salary ($79,469 through June 17, 2025) during the first 22 weeks of training, then receive 100 percent of the base pay for the rest of their training. 

After applying, the next steps will include a physical exam, oral interview and background check this spring. All accepted candidates go through LETO training in August. That training provides you with the education needed to take the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) exam, which qualifies you to become a licensed peace officer. Once candidates have their POST certification, they’ll attend the 16-week Minnesota State Patrol Academy early next year at Camp Ripley alongside traditional trainees.

If you are interested in applying for the LETO program, you can find more information and apply on the Minnesota State Patrol website.