The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has announced the addition of 130 new troopers to its ranks following a graduation ceremony held at the Shoreline Church in Austin for recruit Class B-2024. The ceremony, which took place on December 13, was a celebratory event for the DPS and saw top officials including Public Safety Commission members in attendance. Notably, DPS personnel joined Chairman Steven P. Mach and Commissioners Nelda Blair, Dan Hord III, Larry Long, and Steve Stodghill to recognize the accomplishments of the new officers, as reported by DPS News Release.
In a statement released by DPS News Release, Chairman Mach extolled the virtues of the incoming troopers, "Recruit graduations are incredibly special for members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and it is an honor to recognize the outstanding commitment, dedication and drive of these incoming Texas State Troopers." With the agency seeing the arrival of these new graduates, public safety in Texas is poised for enhancement.
Commissioner Long provided the keynote address, emphasizing the extensive training over the past 30 weeks and the importance of the new troopers putting those skills into practice. He stated, "Your classmates have given you the support you need. Now it’s up to you to take all of that and embark on this next phase as you join the ranks of the Texas Tan," highlighting the camaraderie and teamwork that is an integral part of law enforcement duties.
The event also signified the first graduation presided by newly appointed Colonel Freeman F. Martin, who assumed departmental leadership on December 1. In anticipation of these troopers hitting the road, Colonel Martin affirmed his confidence in the rigor of their preparation, told DPS News Release, "We’ve seen your grit, your determination, we’ve seen your mental and physical toughness and we’ve seen you come together as a group. I have no doubt that when Class B-2024, 130 of our highest-caliber, best-trained, best-equipped Troopers, hit the road that they will make Texas safer tomorrow than it is today."
DPS’s 176th recruit class surpassed the mandatory licensing requirement by completing over 1,200 hours of instruction which included training in various law enforcement disciplines such as criminal investigations and cultural diversity. The graduating class, who began their journey on May 20 and whittled down from an original 164 Trooper Trainees, reflected a diverse array of backgrounds with 112 males, 18 females, 47 military veterans, 32 recruits with prior law enforcement experience, and 70 personnel fluent in more than one language. The culmination of their training involved a practical Joint Field Training Exercise and a symbolic Legacy Run to the State Capitol Peace Officer Memorial. These new Troopers are reported to report to duty stations across Texas on January 5 as per DPS reports.
Footage of the graduation ceremony and additional media such as photos and videos from the training exercises have been made available on the DPS YouTube page for public viewing, allowing an inside look into the demanding training and celebratory milestones of Texas’ newest law enforcement officers.
