MSP - Ninety Recruits Become State Police Troopers

Ninety Recruits Become State Police Troopers

Contact: Shanon Banner, MSP Public Affairs, (517) 241-0955

Agency: State Police

Issued: March 29, 2013

LANSING. Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue today announced that Michigan citizens will soon benefit from the services of 90 new MSP troopers following the graduation of the 124th Trooper Recruit School. Governor Rick Snyder served as the keynote speaker at this afternoon's ceremony.

"The graduates of the 124th Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School will play a critical role in public safety for our state, helping make communities and neighborhoods safer for our families and our economic vitality," Gov. Rick Snyder said. "These new troopers should all be proud of their accomplishments in proving they have what it takes to enter this elite force. On behalf of Michiganders, thank you for your commitment, dedication and professionalism in service to our great state. We owe you a debt of gratitude, and wish you all long, safe, and rewarding careers."

Funding made available as part of Governor Snyder's public safety plan allowed for the hiring of 180 troopers in FY13, which includes this graduating class and the 78 troopers who graduated from the 123rd Trooper Recruit School in October 2012. These additional troopers will help support law enforcement efforts in the state's most violent cities of Flint, Detroit, Pontiac and Saginaw, as well as underserved communities throughout the state.

"To accept the honor of becoming a trooper is to also embrace and recognize the department's proud traditions and high standards of service through excellence, integrity and courtesy," said Etue, during her address to the recruits. "You have a mission to serve and protect because policing is a duty of the highest honor--with the highest responsibilities, the highest visibility and some of the greatest challenges. The department demands and the public deserves nothing less than your best every day."

"With this graduation, not only do these recruits become troopers, they and their families are now members of our Michigan State Police family and part of a 96-year proud tradition," added Etue.

Tpr. Christopher Phillips, who was elected Class Orator by his fellow recruits, spoke on behalf of the graduating class before receiving the Team Building Award. Other award winners included Tpr. Gideon Paetz who received the Marksmanship Award, Tpr. Scott Josephs who received the Academic Achievement Award and Tpr. Brian Russell who received the Outstanding Performance Award.

The 124th Trooper Recruit School began on October 28, 2012, when 114 prospective troopers reported to the MSP Training Academy. For the past 22 weeks, recruits received training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing and precision driving. Graduating recruits were assigned to MSP work sites across the state and will report to their respective posts for duty next week.

Of the 90 graduating recruits, 78 have continued their education with college studies, 16 have served in the United States Military and 12 have prior law enforcement experience.

The department solicited over 2,000 potential candidates for the 124th Trooper Recruit School. Sgt. Kevin Rod was the Recruit School Commander. Special emphasis was given to recruiting military veterans and certified police officers without employment. In order to be selected to attend the academy, all applicants had to pass a stringent selection process that included a physical fitness test, background investigation and hiring interview.

The 125th Trooper Recruit School is set to begin May 12, 2013, and an additional trooper recruit school is anticipated in early 2014. Interested candidates should visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs for more information on how to apply.

As of March 2, 2013, there were 886 at-post troopers stationed at 29 posts across Michigan.

FIRST DISTRICT	POST ASSIGNMENT	HOMETOWN
Tpr. Amy Belanger	Brighton Post	Swartz Creek
Tpr. Sierra Hammond	Brighton Post	Newport
Tpr. Jeffrey Schmerheim	Brighton Post	St. Clair Shores
Tpr. Andrew Urbiel	Brighton Post	Walled Lake
Tpr. Christopher Phillips	Jackson Post	Traverse City
Tpr. Matthew Roberts	Jackson Post	Okemos
Tpr. Joseph Boggs	Lansing Post	Brighton
Tpr. Joshua Bush	Lansing Post	Big Rapids
Tpr. Brian Russell	Lansing Post	Jackson
Tpr. Zachary Batchelor	Monroe Post	Royal Oak
Tpr. Brian George	Monroe Post	Quincy
Tpr. Scott Josephs	Monroe Post	Brooklyn
SECOND DISTRICT	POST ASSIGNMENT	HOMETOWN
Tpr. Derek Ahola	Metro Post	Grand Blanc
Tpr. Ethan Berger	Metro Post	Holly
Tpr. Jason Dailing	Metro Post	Howell
Tpr. Ronald Darling	Metro Post	Canton
Tpr. Kevin Doyle	Metro Post	Southgate
Tpr. Timothy Fagin	Metro Post	Clio
Tpr. Timothy Good	Metro Post	Springport
Tpr. Matthew Jones	Metro Post	Allen Park
Tpr. Dustin Kieffer	Metro Post	Ovid
Tpr. Anthony Knowles	Metro Post	Flint
Tpr. Andrew Lambert	Metro Post	Taylor
Tpr. Gideon Paetz	Metro Post	Freeland
Tpr. Iosif Pap	Metro Post	Troy
Tpr. Daniel Saldana	Metro Post	Muskegon
Tpr. Michael Scalaci	Metro Post	Kalamazoo
Tpr. Aaron Sitko	Metro Post	Gaines
Tpr. Victoria Smith	Metro Post	Lake Orion
Tpr. Lance Tedora	Metro Post	Monroe
Tpr. Jonathan Tibaudo	Metro Post	Saginaw
Tpr. Jordan Walker	Metro Post	Muskegon
THIRD DISTRICT	POST ASSIGNMENT	HOMETOWN
Tpr. Nicole Beyer-Rex	Caro Post	Bridgeport
Tpr. Stephen Krieger	Caro Post	Milford
Tpr. Olivia Sivy	Caro Post	Brighton
Tpr. Mark Swales	Caro Post	Mt. Morris
Tpr. Adam Diroff	Flint Post	Allen Park
Tpr. Jaime Durand	Flint Post	White Lake
Tpr. Brian Kross	Flint Post	Lake Orion
Tpr. Dan Nease	Flint Post	Bay City
Tpr. Timothy Roberts	Flint Post	Charlotte
Tpr. Joseph Tibbits	Flint Post	Saginaw
Tpr. Justin Vroman	Flint Post	Port Huron
Tpr. Tarzza Williams	Flint Post	Sterling Heights
Tpr. Jared Grigg	Lapeer Post	Frankenmuth
Tpr. Adam Green	Tri-City Post	Cass City
Tpr. Bryant Greenert	Tri-City Post	Grand Rapids
Tpr. Daniel Inman	Tri-City Post	Millington
Tpr. Clint Korpalski	Tri-City Post	Canton
Tpr. Justin Matinkhah	Tri-City Post	Reese
Tpr. David Murchie	Tri-City Post	Grand Blanc
Tpr. Tyler Schuiteman	Tri-City Post	Big Rapids
Tpr. Cody Siterlet	Tri-City Post	Clarkston
Tpr. William Smith	West Branch Post	Freeland
Tpr. Devin Wilson	West Branch Post	Newaygo
FIFTH DISTRICT	POST ASSIGNMENT	HOMETOWN
Tpr. Matthew Hart	Coldwater Post	Kalamazoo
Tpr. Matthew Hayden	Coldwater Post	Sterling Heights
Tpr. Kevin Paison	Coldwater Post	Jackson
Tpr. Matthew Rose	Coldwater Post	Pickford
Tpr. Kelly Anderson	Niles Post	Clarkston
Tpr. Robert Lindsay	Niles Post	Trenton
Tpr. Scott Wehler	Niles Post	Grand Rapids
Tpr. Jesse Binns	Paw Paw Post	Cassopolis
Tpr. Christopher Carns	Paw Paw Post	Allegan
Tpr. Todd Waite	Paw Paw Post	Adrian
Tpr. Tomas Pankiewicz	Wayland Post	Newaygo
SIXTH DISTRICT	POST ASSIGNMENT	HOMETOWN
Tpr. Alexander Hammerle	Hart Post	Mt. Pleasant
Tpr. Aaron Tubergen	Hart Post	Holland
Tpr. Barry Wolf	Hart Post	Howard City
Tpr. Jennifer Nowicki	Lakeview Post	Byron Center
Tpr. Kyle Rademacher	Lakeview Post	Eagle
Tpr. Daniel Richter	Lakeview Post	St. Clair
Tpr. Brock Benavides	Mt. Pleasant Post	Lake City
Tpr. Andrew Wilson	Mt. Pleasant Post	Saginaw
Tpr. Jacob Cox	Rockford Post	Dewagiac
Tpr. Timothy Dixon	Rockford Post	Kalkaska
Tpr. Jessica Hemingway	Rockford Post	Hillsdale
SEVENTH DISTRICT	POST ASSIGNMENT	HOMETOWN
Tpr. William Brown	Alpena Post	Gaylord
Tpr. Jeffrey Hoyt	Alpena Post	Big Rapids
Tpr. Anthony Utt	Alpena Post	Weidman
Tpr. Michael O'Brien	Cadillac Post	Durand
Tpr. Daniel Werner	Gaylord Post	Monroe
Tpr. Jason Northrup	Houghton Lake Post	Fort Gratiot
Tpr. Matthew Strauss	Houghton Lake Post	Howell
EIGHTH DISTRICT	POST ASSIGNMENT	HOMETOWN
Tpr. Kelsey Sipple	Iron Mountain Post	Menominee
Tpr. Kyle Bowers	Negaunee Post	Coldwater
Tpr. Jeremiah Parks	Sault Ste. Marie Post	Lakeview
Tpr. James Plummer	Sault Ste. Marie Post	Grandville
Tpr. Clark Becksford	St. Ignace Post	Wayland
Tpr. Matt Lequia	Wakefield Post	Champion

NOTE: For a picture or interview with an individual trooper, contact his or her post assignment location.

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