The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) recently bolstered its ranks with the addition of 14 new troopers, swearing them in at a ceremony held at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville. This group, part of Lateral Trooper Cadet Class 825, completed an intensive 11-week training program, and were welcomed by Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and THP Colonel Matt Perry. Bringing together a cumulative 74 years of law enforcement experience from various Tennessee agencies, they represent a wealth of seasoned professionals ready to take their oath.
According to the Tennessee government's official announcement, the lateral program boasts a perfect graduation rate for its June starters. Commissioner Long, the keynote speaker at the event, remarked, "I commend them on their tenacity and ability to work together and support each other through this rigorous training program. Congratulations to each and every one of these cadets who have earned the right to be called a Tennessee State Trooper."
The lateral training class is composed solely of individuals previously certified as law enforcement officers, ensuring that the graduates are no strangers to the requirements and expectations of such a critical public service role. Colonel Perry expressed pride in the accomplishments and backgrounds the new troopers bring to the THP. "You, the graduates of Tennessee Highway Patrol cadet class 825, are not newcomers to the profession," he told the graduates. Each of them brings a valuable skillset honed in other agencies, as per the Tennessee Government.
"Each of you brought with you a wealth of experience, insight, and dedication from your service with other agencies," Colonel Perry further explained. And now, chosen to join the THP, reflects their commitment to serving with excellence and purpose. The ceremony marks both a continuation and a new beginning for these law enforcement professionals as they don the uniform and badge that signify their new roles within the Tennessee Highway Patrol, as detailed by the Tennessee Government.
