The Hermitage Hills Baptist Church recently hosted a ceremony that brought 33 new troopers into the ranks of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. These graduates of Trooper Cadet Class 625 completed a rigorous 17-week training, designed to prepare them for the demands of law enforcement, according to a release by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. With 86 years of combined military experience, Class 625 also includes graduates with honors in education – two troopers hold associate degrees, nine with bachelor's degrees, and one with a master's degree.
Jeff Long, the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, officiated the event, wherein he celebrated "the hard work and perseverance these cadets demonstrated." Long's acknowledgement to the new troopers' commitment was reinforced by Colonel Matt Perry's reminder of the crucial, split-second decisions they will be making in the line of duty. Despite the challenges ahead, Perry assured them that they have joined a legacy that goes back to 1929, embodying “honor, respect, and innovation.”
In addition to their training and academic achievements, the class also showed their community commitment by taking part in the Special Olympics Torch Run, a nod to the importance of engaging with and serving the public in more ways than one. This public spiritedness was evidenced again in the awarding of the top cadet, Trooper Dustin Garrett, with the Trooper Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence. Named after Trooper Jenks, who was killed in the line of duty in 2007, the award recognizes leadership, work ethic, and academic prowess among the cadets, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Commissoner Long emphasized the weight of the badge the troopers now carry, as quoted by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's announcement: “Becoming a Tennessee State Trooper is making promise to the people of Tennessee that no matter the hour, no matter the weather, someone will be there to help.” The department and the people of Tennessee now look forward to these new troopers' contributions to keeping the state's roads safe and upholding the storied traditions of the TN Highway Patrol.
