Bringing a fresh wave of law enforcement to Arizona's streets, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) welcomed 54 new State Troopers into the fold following their graduation from the State Trooper Academy last Thursday, as reported by the AZDPS website.
The 37th class, which is notable for being the department's largest in recent memory, includes a mix of 30 cadets and 24 lateral officers, the latter bringing experience from other police departments to the table, which should they should prove beneficial as they integrate with their new colleagues and apply their skills to protecting and serving communities across Arizona.
During the graduation ceremony in Mesa, Governor Katie Hobbs congratulated the new troopers on their achievement and expressed her aspirations for their future contributions to public safety. Colonel Jeffrey Glover, the Director of AZDPS, delivered an address and led the troopers in their oath of office. Glover's involvement underscored the gravity of the moment for these individuals now pledged to serve the state with dedication.
The new troopers will now embark on a demanding 12-week field training program pairing each new trooper with a seasoned veteran to guide them, as they familiarize themselves with the nuances of highway patrol duties, and their deployment will be widespread, with assignments in locations ranging from the urban sprawl of Phoenix, encompassing Capitol and its various sectors, to remote outposts like Quartzsite and Winslow.
