The Georgia State Patrol graduated its 111th Trooper School on Friday, April 29, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. After 32 weeks of intense training, 41 new troopers will report to one of the 52 patrol posts throughout the state.
Governor Brian Kemp was the keynote speaker, and issued the Oath of Office. Additionally, remarks were given by Colonel Chris C. Wright, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Captain Clayton Kicklighter, 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 Matthew Bellflower, class president, reflected on their journey through Trooper School. “We earned this, this was not given to us,” Bellflower stated. “I challenge each of you to develop your individual professionalism that coincides with the professionalism of the Georgia State Patrol.”
Trooper Townsend also received a $5,000 scholarship towards a Master’s degree from Reinhardt University for having the highest academic average, 95.55, in his class. This scholarship is named after CPL Chadwick LeCroy who was killed in the line of duty on December 27, 2010.
Four of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various proficiencies. The honorees were:
- Driving Proficiency – Trooper Cameron Fernandez
- Firearms Proficiency – Trooper Dylan Smith
- Top Gun – Trooper Christopher Cronsell
- Highest Academic Average – Trooper Ryan Townsend
Additionally, the following graduates were recognized for their leadership: Trooper Joseph Elsberry, Vice President; Trooper Ryan Townsend, Secretary; Trooper Joseph Song, Chaplain; Trooper Cedric Riche, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Trooper Devin Story, Pennant Bearer.
Each commissioned trooper will report to the following assigned post:
| Bryce Baker | Post 24-Newnan |
| Matthew Bellflower | Post 19-Swainsboro |
| Donald Bonner | Post 16-Helena |
| Benjamin Brewer | Post 21-Sylvania |
| Cameron Cain | Post 31-Valdosta |
| Greta Cherry | Post 6-Gainesville |
| Joshua Cockrell | Post 33-Milledgeville |
| Morgan Crean | Post 35-Jekyll Island |
| Christopher Cronsell | Post 18-Reidsville |
| Tyler Crowe | Post 17-Washington |
| Kyle Duke | Post 13-Tifton |
| Dustin Edwards | Post 3-Cartersville |
| Joseph Elsberry | Post 5-Dalton |
| Cameron Fernandez | Post 47-Forest Park |
| Matthew Gilbert | Post 2-LaGrange |
| Edith Gonzalez | Post 35-Jekyll Island |
| Nicholas Guerra | Post 9-Marietta |
| Michael Haggard | Post 3-Cartersville |
| Justin Harp | Post 29-Paulding |
| Dallas Harper | Post 11-Hinesville |
| Benjamin Heideman | Post 8-Madison |
| Hunter Humphries | Post 40-Albany |
| Justin Lewis | Post 30-Cordele |
| William Mefford | Post 43-Calhoun |
| Camron Neely | Post 3-Cartersville |
| Connor Outlaw | Post 20-Dublin |
| Andrew J. Peeples | Post 32-Athens |
| Andrew T. Peeples | Post 40-Albany |
| Cedric Riche | Post 48-Atlanta |
| Dylan Smith | Post 14-Colquitt |
| Joseph Song | Post 51-Gwinnett |
| Jackie Stephens | Post 5-Dalton |
| Devin Story | Post 5-Dalton |
| Joseph Sutton | Post 26-Thomaston |
| Ryan Townsend | Post 43-Calhoun |
| Matthew Vandiver | Post 52-Hartwell |
| Tyler Vining | Post 25-Grovetown |
| Matthew Ward | Post 2-LaGrange |
| Jacquez Willis | Post 34-Manchester |
| Nigel Wilmore | Post 44-Forsyth |
| Joshua Winter | Post 36-Douglas |
