Georgia State Patrol Graduates 117th Trooper School
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) celebrated the graduation of its 117th Trooper School on Friday at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. After 34 weeks of rigorous training, 39 new Troopers will be assigned to one of 52 patrol posts across Georgia.
Georgia’s First Lady, Marty Kemp, delivered the commencement address. Deputy Commissioner Lt. Colonel Kendrick Lowe administered the Oath of Office, with additional remarks from Colonel Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Captain Craig Singletary, Director of Training.
The Trooper Cadets completed 22 weeks of academy training followed by 12 weeks of field training. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) mandates a minimum of 408 hours of Basic Mandate Training. The graduates have undergone over 1,400 hours of comprehensive training, including driving, defensive tactics, vehicle stops, Spanish, criminal law and procedure, firearms, and accident investigation.
Class President Trooper De’Marion Jones reflected on the challenges faced during the program. “Trooper school was not easy,” said Jones. “It was very hard, both physically and mentally, but Captain Singletary would always show up at the right time. He provided us with sincere motivation and reminded us not to forget our why and to stay the course.”
Other class officers included Trooper Payton Carradine (Secretary and Treasurer), Trooper Wesley Collins (Chaplain), Trooper David Gant (Sergeant-at-Arms), and Trooper David Zarb (Pennant Bearer).
Four graduates received special honors:
- Driving Proficiency: Trooper Jean-Tae Wilson
- Firearms Proficiency: Trooper David Gant
- Top Gun: Trooper Russell Gassaway
- Highest Academic Average: Trooper Samuel Schmittou, who achieved a 97.38 average and received the Cpl. Chadwick LeCroy scholarship for further education at Reinhardt University. Cpl. Chadwick LeCroy was killed in the line of duty on December 27, 2010.
Trooper Payton Carradine was awarded the third annual Patrick Dupree Leadership Award for demonstrating outstanding leadership throughout the class. Trooper Cadet Patrick Dupree passed away on September 8, 2022, following a training exercise.
The new Troopers and their assigned posts are:
- Eric Adams – Coweta County, Post 24 – Newnan
- Ulises Angeles – DeKalb County, Post 47 – Forest Park
- Walt Brown – Colquitt County, Post 12 – Thomasville
- Troy Carpenter – Douglas County, Post 4 – Villa Rica
- Payton Carradine – Bacon County, Post 23 – Brunswick
- Benjamin Coker – Gwinnett County, Post 6 – Gainesville
- Wesley Collins – Tatnall County, Post 19 – Swainsboro
- Bobby Durden – Bulloch County, Post 45 – Statesboro
- Timothy Edwards – Columbia County, Post 17 – Washington
- David Gant – Catoosa County, Post 38 – Rome
- Russell Gassaway – Haralson County, Post 29 – Paulding
- Matthew Gaston – Lowndes County, Post 31 – Valdosta
- Allen Griffin – Morgan County, Post 8 – Madison
- Trevor Hairgrove – Carroll County, Post 4 – Villa Rica
- Casey Hodges – Barrow County, Post 6 – Gainesville
- Dueward Holton – Lowndes County, Post 36 – Douglas
- Zechariah Hurley – Monroe County, Post 44 – Forsyth
- Trenten Jackson – Wayne County, Post 16 – Hazlehurst
- De’Marion Jones – Lee County, Post 39 – Cuthbert
- Cory Lee – Long County, Post 42 – Rincon
- Dalton Lynn – Toombs County, Post 45 – Statesboro
- Matthew Mansuy – Chatham County, Post 21 – Sylvania
- Brian McIntosh – Stevens County, Post 7 – Toccoa
- Rodney Morgan – Houston County, Post 30 – Cordele
- Zachary Owens – Lowndes County, Post 13 – Tifton
- Mark Peters – Houston County, Post 15 – Perry
- Lane Riley – Union County, Post 37 – Cumming
- Dylan Roberts – Towns County, Post 27 – Blue Ridge
- Michael Rolla – Gwinnett County, Post 51 – Gwinnett
- Samuel Schmittou – Thomas County, Post 12 – Thomasville
- Tracy Sneed – Whitfield County, Post 43 – Calhoun
- Jonathan Tate – Hall County, Post 6 – Gainesville
- Nasier Vasquez – Lowndes County, Post 31 – Valdosta
- Dallas Watson – Gwinnett County, Post 9 – Marietta
- Michael Welch – Lowndes County, Post 31 – Valdosta
- Ryan Williams – Dougherty County, Post 10 – Americus
- Jean-Tae Wilson – Troup County, Post 24 – Newnan
- Lawson Womble – Grady County, Post 14 – Colquitt
- David Zarb – Oconee County, Post 32 – Athens
