Woodstock Resident Graduates From 100th Trooper School

FORSYTH, GA -- The Georgia State Patrol graduated its 100th Trooper School on Friday at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth.

Following 31 weeks of intense training, 13 new troopers will report to patrol posts throughout the state on Monday, Sept. 18. Governor Nathan Deal was the keynote speaker, and additional remarks were given by Colonel Mark W. McDonough, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, and Capt. Scott Woodell, director of training.

The oath of office was issued by Deputy Commissioner Lt. Colonel Russell Powel (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

“The graduation of the 100th Trooper School is the beginning of our department’s recovery from personnel shortages,” Colonel Mark W. McDonough said during his remarks.

Trooper cadets spend 18 weeks at the academy, 12 weeks in field training, and will return to the academy for one week of preparation for graduation. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) requires that 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 various other training.

During remarks to his fellow class members, Class President Trooper Damien Serrata reflected on the brotherhood they had created over the past 31 weeks and its importance to their roles as state troopers.

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

• Highest Firearms Proficiency – Trooper Michael Talbott, II
• Highest Driving Proficiency – Trooper Damien Serrata
• Highest Academic Average – Trooper Arash Trugh
• Top Gun – Trooper Matthew Sanders

This year, Trooper Arash Trugh received an award from Reinhardt University for the highest academic average. Since he already has a bachelor’s and master’s degree, the $1,000 scholarship towards a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Reinhardt went to Trooper Richard Holman of Woodstock, who had the second highest academic average.

Additionally, the following graduates were recognized for their leadership: Trooper Adrien Jean, vice president; Trooper Richard Bell, secretary/treasurer; Trooper Tyler Easter, sergeant-at-arms; Trooper Jordan McLean, pennant bearer; and Trooper Richard Holman, chaplain.

The new graduates are assigned to one of the 52 posts throughout the state.

Photo 1: Richard Holman

Photo 2: graduates of the 100th Trooper School

Photo credits: Georgia State Patrol