For Immediate Release: 

September 13, 2024            

 

(FORSYTH, GA) – The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) graduated its 117th Trooper School Friday, September 13, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. After 34 weeks of intense training, 39 new Troopers will report to one of 52 patrol posts around the state.

Georgia's First Lady, Marty Kemp, delivered the graduation address, and Deputy Commissioner Lt. Colonel Kendrick Lowe 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 22 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 De'Marion Jones, class president, reflected on the group's journey through Trooper School. 

"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. Trooper school consisted of many challenges: academics, precision driving, basic and advanced firearms, a shotgun stress course, and defensive tactics week. There was something to be learned from every challenge" Jones added.

In addition to Jones, other class officers include 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 for top performance in various proficiencies. The honorees were: 

Driving Proficiency – Trooper Jean-Tae Wilson

Firearms Proficiency – Trooper David Gant

Top Gun – Trooper Russell Gassaway

Highest Academic Average – Trooper Samuel Schmittou

Trooper Schmittou who had a 97.38 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 Payton Carradine received the third annual Patrick Dupree Leadership Award, presented to the cadet who showed leadership throughout the entire class, even though they were 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.

Trooper’s Name

Home County

Assigned Post

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