FORSYTH – 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 also 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 toward 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
