(1) The chief of patrol, directors, inspectors, assistant inspectors, patrol officers and investigators of the department shall be selected after an examination as to physical and mental fitness, knowledge of traffic laws, rules and regulations of this state, the laws of the state pertaining to arrest, and the rules and regulations of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and Public Service Commission, such examination to be prescribed by the commissioner. At the time of appointment they shall be citizens of the United States and the State of Mississippi, of good moral character, and shall be not less than twenty-one (21) years of age and shall have:

(a) Sixty (60) hours and/or an associate degree from an accredited educational institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; or

(b) A high school diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma and at least four (4) years of active military duty or six (6) years of National Guard duty; a Department of Defense Form 214 (DD214), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or a National Guard Bureau Form 22 (NGB Form 22), Report of Separation, or a National Guard Bureau Form 23 (NGB Form 23), ARNG Retirement Credit Points Statement must be submitted by the applicant; or

(c) A high school diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma, minimum standard certification from an accredited law enforcement academy and a minimum of one (1) year of law enforcement field experience; or

(d) A high school diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma if the applicant is not less than twenty-three (23) years of age.

(2) Sworn agents of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics who are employed as enforcement troopers shall retain all compensatory, personal and sick leave accrued pursuant to Sections 25-3-92, 25-3-93 and 25-3-95.