The Georgia State Patrol graduated its 110th Trooper School on Friday, September 17, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. After 32 weeks of intense training, and a three-week interruption due to a COVID outbreak, 34 new troopers will report to one of the 52 patrol posts throughout the state.
First Lady Marty Kemp was the keynote speaker. Colonel Chris C. Wright, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), paid tribute to the first responders killed on Sept. 11. Lt. Colonel William W. Hitchens, III, DPS Deputy Commissioner, issued the Oath of Office. Additionally, remarks were given by Lt. Colonel Stephanie L. Stallings, DPS Director of Support/Administrative Operations, and Capt. Garrett Fiveash, Director of Training.
Trooper Cadets spend 20 weeks at the academy and 12 weeks in field training. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) requires that all peace officers receive a minimum of 408 hours of Basic Mandate Training. At the completion of Trooper School, these newly graduated troopers received over 1,400 hours of training, including driving, defensive tactics, vehicle stops, Spanish, criminal law and criminal procedure, firearms, accident investigation, and various other training.
During remarks to his fellow class members, Trooper Scott Curry, class president, reflected on family and how it extends beyond the immediate family to his classmates and the training staff he walked with on this journey towards becoming a Trooper. He expressed how important the friendships that were made helped get each of them through those tough times.
Four of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various proficiencies. The honorees were:
- Driving Proficiency – Trooper Jamie Allen
- Firearms Proficiency – Trooper Zachary Goodman
- Top Gun – Trooper Cameron York
- Highest Academic Average – Trooper Cameron Reese
Trooper Reese also received a $2,000 scholarship towards a master’s degree from Reinhardt University for having the highest academic average (95.89) in his class. He already received a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice Studies. This scholarship is named after CPL Chadwick LeCroy who was killed in the line of duty on December 27, 2010. The university also gave a $1,000 scholarship to each trooper towards a bachelor’s degree.
Additionally, the following graduates were recognized for their leadership: Trooper Bradley Gurganus, Vice President; Trooper Katlyn Reid, Secretary; Trooper Vijaya Purugulla, Treasurer; Trooper Derek Long, Chaplain; Trooper Darryll Fulghum, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Trooper Joshua Powell, Pennant Bearer.
Each commissioned trooper will report to the following assigned post:
| TROOPER | POST ASSIGNMENT |
| Jamie Allen | Post 16 – Helena |
| Jhordann Barker | Post 44 – Forsyth |
| Edgar Bellorin | Post 51 – Gwinnett |
| Thomas Bond | Post 42 – Rincon |
| Scott Curry | Post 17 – Washington |
| Aaron Deyton | Post 27 – Blue Ridge |
| Logan Edwards | Post 29 – Paulding |
| Seth Frady | Post 6 – Gainesville |
| Andrew Frizzell | Post 15 – Perry |
| Darryll Fulghum | Post 31 – Valdosta |
| Zackary Goodman | Post 8 – Madison |
| Cody E. Gordy | Post 32 – Athens |
| Bradley J. Gurganus | Post 42 – Rincon |
| Jorge Hernandez | Post 6 – Gainesville |
| Evan Johnson | Post 43 – Calhoun |
| Xavier Johnson | Post 39 – Cuthbert |
| Kenneth Jones | Post 10 – Americus |
| David Jones | Post 27 – Blue Ridge |
| Derek Long | Post 6 – Gainesville |
| Keith McCarty | Post 45 – Statesboro |
| Joshua Nelson | Post 1 – Griffin |
| Courdarious Nunn | Post 2 – LaGrange |
| Joshua Powell | Post 30 – Cordele |
| Vijaya Purugulla | Post 2 – LaGrange |
| Cameron Reese | Post 45 – Statesboro |
| Katlyn S. Reid | Post 30 – Cordele |
| John Reinhardt | Post 13 – Tifton |
| Seth Scriven | Post 21 – Sylvania |
| Brandon Simerly | Post 14 – Colquitt |
| Marquez G. Styles | Post 1 – Griffin |
| Christopher Thompson | Post 36 – Douglas |
| James Turner, III | Post 45 – Statesboro |
| Austin Lee Weaver | Post 3 – Cartersville |
| Cameron York | Post 35 – Jekyll Island |
