Media release from the Georgia Department of Public Safety:
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 |