The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) graduated its 115th Trooper School Friday, March 8, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. After 32 weeks of intense training, 39 new Troopers will report to one of 52 patrol posts around the state.
Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp delivered the graduation address and gave the Oath of Office. Additional remarks were provided by Colonel Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Captain Craig Singletary, Director of Training.
Trooper Cadets spend 20 weeks at the academy and 12 weeks training in the field. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) requires all peace officers to receive a minimum of 408 hours of Basic Mandate Training. After completing Trooper School, the graduates have received more than 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 Kenneth Williams, class president, reflected on the group’s journey through Trooper School.
“Those hard and exhausting moments led us to where we are today,” said Williams. “In the words of Kirby Smart, “When you step on that field, it’s not just about you. It’s about your teammates, your coaches, your family, and all those that supported you along the way.” “Remember your why, 115th be proud, be vigilant, and be safe!” Williams added.
In addition to Williams, other class officers include Trooper Joshua Webster, Vice President; Trooper Keith Jones, Secretary and Treasurer; Trooper Garrett Jones, Chaplain; Trooper Isaiah Francois, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Trooper Timothy Pattison, Pennant Bearer.
Four graduates received special honors for top performance in various proficiencies. The honorees were:
- Driving Proficiency – Trooper Daniel Pendleton
- Firearms Proficiency – Trooper Austin Scott
- Top Gun – Trooper Daniel Pendleton
- Highest Academic Average – Trooper Christian Clark
Trooper Clark who had a 98.15 academic average, received the Cpl. Chadwick LeCroy scholarship to use toward obtaining a degree from Reinhardt University. Cpl. Chadwick LeCroy, a GSP Trooper, was killed in the line of duty on December 27, 2010.
Trooper Zackary Herrington received the second annual Patrick Dupree Leadership Award which is presented to the cadet that showed leadership throughout the entire class, even though he/she was not the class president. Trooper Cadet Dupree passed away Thursday, September 8, 2022, after performing a training exercise along with other members of the 113th Trooper School at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.
Each commissioned Trooper will report to the following assigned post:
Trooper’s Name |
Home County |
Assigned Post |
Daniel Pendleton |
Berrien County |
Post 31 – Valdosta |
Christian Clark |
Bulloch County |
Post 45 – Statesboro |
Adam Figueroa |
Cherokee County |
Post 28 – Jasper |
Dwayne Cameron |
Cobb County |
Post 9 – Marietta |
Heidy Terrero |
Bulloch County |
Post 42 – Rincon |
James Jovan |
Gwinnett County |
Post 51 – Gwinnett |
Dakota Metts |
Bacon County |
Post 23 – Brunswick |
Steven Greiner |
Columbia County |
Post 25 – Grovetown |
Rusty Evans |
Grady County |
Post 14 – Colquitt |
Kenneth Williams |
Jeff Davis County |
Post 16 – Hazelhurst |
Richard Bath |
Floyd County |
Post 3 – Cartersville |
Austin Scott |
Paulding County |
Post 29 – Paulding |
Joshua Webster |
Bartow County |
Post 3 – Cartersville |
Marquavious Jackson |
Oglethorpe County |
Post 6 – Gainesville |
Jonathan Negron |
Cobb County |
Post 49 – Motor Unit |
Garrett Jones |
Colquitt County |
Post 12 – Thomasville |
Marco Zamora-Avalos |
Lenoir County |
Post 30 – Cordele |
Daniel Ivey |
Telfair County |
Post 16 – Hazelhurst |
Isaiah Wilkins |
Gordon County |
Post 23 – Brunswick |
Zackary Herrington |
Coffee County |
Post 36 – Douglas |
David Hunter |
Harris County |
Post 2 – Lagrange |
Gage Pace |
Fulton County |
Post 5 – Dalton |
Nekoda Farinha |
Bryan County |
Post 42 – Rincon |
Douglas Brown |
Pike County |
Post 1 – Griffin |
Jonathan Concepcion |
Effingham County |
Post 42 – Rincon |
Timothy Pattison |
Cherokee County |
Post 3 – Cartersville |
Darren Wiggins |
Bartow County |
Post 3 – Cartersville |
Matthew Wannamaker |
Fulton County |
Post 42 – Rincon |
Cannon Hicks |
Douglas County |
Post 4 – Villa Rica |
Eric Jackson |
Fulton County |
Post 47 – Forest Park |
Isaiah Francois |
Bulloch County |
Post 45 – Statesboro |
Keith Jones |
Montgomery County |
Post 48 – Atlanta |
Brandon Brown |
Washington County |
Post 33 – Milledgeville |
James Teston |
Bleckley County |
Post 20 – Dublin |
Garrett Glover |
Lee County |
Post 39 – Cuthbert |
Wendel White |
Houston County |
Post 15 – Perry |
Cody Rollins |
Pickens County |
Post 28 – Jasper |
Davied Robertson |
Walton County |
Post 46 – Monroe |
Austin Fitzhugh |
Fulton County |
Post 48 – Atlanta |