Georgia State Patrol's 95th Trooper Class Graduates

Staff Report

The Georgia State Patrol’s 95th Trooper School graduated on Friday, Aug. 15 at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth after 31 weeks of intense training.

The keynote address was given by Gov. Nathan Deal, who acknowledged troopers for their “tenacity, meticulousness and heart,” according to a press release from the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

Additional remarks were given by Colonel Mark W. McDonough, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety; Lt. Mark Holloway, deputy director of training; and Cpl. Mark Hodges, assistant trooper school coordinator. The oath of office was issued by Justice Harold Melton Georgia Supreme Court.

Trooper cadets spend 18 weeks at the academy, 12 weeks in field training, and returned to the academy for one week of preparation for graduation. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) requires all peace officers receive a minimum of 400 hours of basic mandate training.

At the completion of Trooper School, these newly graduated trooper cadets received over 1,500 hours of training, including driving, defensive tactics, vehicle stops, Spanish, criminal law and criminal procedure, firearms, accident investigation and other subjects.

During remarks to his fellow class members, Class President Trooper Nicholas B. Johnson emphasized that to be a Georgia state trooper, “you must have discipline, hard work, and perseverance.”

Four of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various fields of study. The honorees were:

• Highest Firearms Proficiency – Tpr. Stephen Smith
• Highest Driving Proficiency – Tpr. Scott Parker
• Highest Academic Average – Tpr. Jonathan Driskell
• Top Gun – Tpr. Brian Regain

Additionally, the following graduates were recognized for their leadership: Tpr. Steven D. Crager, Vice President; Tpr. Jonathan R. Driskell, Secretary/Treasurer; Tpr. Stephen M. Smith, Sergeant-At-Arms; Tpr. Israel B. Borup, Pennat Bearer; and Tpr. Jonathan M. Edwards, Chaplain.

Each commissioned trooper will report to his post on Sept. 1. The new graduates are assigned to one of the 52 posts throughout the state. The graduates are:

Joshua T. Bond of Atlanta: Post 46 - Monroe

Israel B. Borup of Glynn: Post 42 - Rincon

Randall L. Bowden of Rome: Post 3 – Cartersville

Robert T. Callahan of Gainesville: Post 52 – Hartwell

Titus J. Cave of Loganville: Post 52 – Hartwell

Steven D. Crager of Milledgeville: Post 25 – Grovetown

Jonathan R. Driskell of Barnesville: Post 1 – Griffin

Jonathan M. Edwards Wiscasset, ME Post 15 – Perry

Richard C. Fleming of Hartwell: Post 52 – Hartwell

Keith D. Flowers of Rome: Post 3 – Cartersville

Roger G. Fuller of Lavonia: Post 52 – Hartwell

Brady J. Galloway of Clayton: Post 7 – Toccoa

Tyler G. Gay of Cadwell: Post 20 – Dublin

John P. Getty of Powell, TN: Post 37 – Cumming

John F. Giunta of Murrayville: Post 52 – Hartwell

Dillon L. Graves of Douglasville: Post 3 – Cartersville

Brent G. Hammond of Springfield: Post 45 – Statesboro

Frederick D. Henderson of Fayetteville: Post 24 – Newnan

Nicholas B. Johnson of Winder: Post 52 – Hartwell

Justin K. Jones of Folkston: Post 22 – Waycross

Daniel P. Jordan of Guyton: Post 42 – Rincon

Keith O. Kerrick of Hinesville: Post 23 – Brunswick

Justin L. Killinsworth of Monroe: Post 46 – Monroe

Kristopher D. Kopp of Douglasville: Post 9 – Marietta

Scott R. Langham of Thomson: Post 17 – Washington

Timothy C. Ledbetter of Upson: Post 1 – Griffin

Kory T. Maloney of Adairsville: Post 3 – Cartersville

Sherman K. McClain of Newburgh, NY: Post 22 – Waycross

Andrew S. Miller of Marietta: Post 3 – Cartersville

Leonard J. Mullen, III of Monroe: Post 32 – Athens

Skyler A. J. Nettles of Brunswick: Post 23 – Brunswick

Daniel J. Noe of Atlanta: Post 9 – Marietta

Keith H. Oglesby of Sylvania: Post 45 – Statesboro

Brandon C. Parker of Bremen: Post 4 – Villa Rica

Edward S. Parker of Rising Fawn: Post 28 – Jasper

Brian E. Reagin of Hazlehurst Post 20 – Dublin

Samuel S. Reid of Valdosta: Post 13 – Tifton

Christian M. Siena of New Port Richey, FL: Post 23 – Brunswick

(Photo credit: Georgia Department of Public Safety)