Meet the newest Georgia State Troopers

The Georgia State Patrol graduated its 113th Trooper School Friday, March 10, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth.

After 32 weeks of intense training, 33 new Troopers will report to one of 52 patrol posts around the state.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was the keynote speaker and gave the Oath of Office. Additional remarks were provided by Colonel Chris C. Wright, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, and Captain Clayton Kicklighter, Director of Training.

Trooper Cadets spend 20 weeks at the academy and 12 weeks training in the field. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council requires all peace officers to receive a minimum of 408 hours of Basic Mandate Training. At the completion of Trooper School these newly graduated Troopers 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 trainings.

During remarks to his fellow class members Trooper Deontress McNeal, the class president, reflected on the journey through Trooper School. 

“Our journey to today began last year, on July 17, 2022. As diverse individuals from all walks of life, we left our families, homes, and jobs on the quest to become a Georgia State Patrol Trooper,” said McNeal. “Today is about celebrating that diverse group of people that became one big, close-knit family. We completed the process, we are Troopers, and that is undeniably a big accomplishment to be proud of.”

Four of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various proficiencies. The honorees were:

• Driving Proficiency – Phillip Johnson
• Firearms Proficiency – Tyler Pettee
• Top Gun – Caleb Crosswhite
• Highest Academic Average – Thomas Ayres

Additionally, Trooper Thomas Ayres who had a 96.0 academic average, received the CPL Chadwick LeCroy scholarship to use toward obtaining a master’s degree from Reinhardt University. CPL Chadwick LeCroy, a GSP Trooper, was killed in the line of duty on December 27, 2010.

Trooper Kristoff Batson received the inaugural Patrick Dupree Leadership Award which is presented to the cadet that showed leadership throughout the entire class, even though he/she was not the class president.

“It is such an honor to receive this award, Batson said. “Patrick was not only an awesome colleague but a great friend. As I proudly wear my GSP badge and travel Georgia’s roadways serving the residents and visitors to our state, I will carry Patrick’s memory in my heart.”

Additionally, the following graduates were recognized for their leadership: Thomas Ayres, Vice President; Austin Byers, Secretary; David Holland, Chaplain; Claire Ctibor, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Andrew Thompson, Pennant Bearer.

Each commissioned Trooper will report to the following assigned post:

Cadet’s Name	Hometown	Assigned Post
Jarquavious Anthony	Decatur, GA	Post 46-Monroe
Thomas Ayres	Dallas, GA	Post 09 – Marietta
Kristoff Batson	Augusta, GA	Post 25-Grovetown
Kyle Brasington	Acworth, GA	Post 03-Cartersville
Austin Byers	Hinesville, GA	Post 11-Hinesville
Jireh Crafton	Savannah, GA	Post 23-Brunswick
Jodie Crews	Waco, GA	Post 04-Villa Rica
Caleb Crosswhite	Lafayette, GA	Post 05-Dalton
Mary Ctibor	Miner, GA	Post 01-Griffin
Austin Dollar	Colquitt, GA	Post 39-Cuthbert
Dustin Ferguson	Hinesville, GA	Post 18-Reidsville
Javaris Freeman	Pelham, GA	Post 40-Albany
Roger Graydon	Tifton, GA	Post 13-Tifton
Garrett Harrell	Carnesville, GA	Post 52-Hartwell
Joshua Hillard	St. Mary’s, GA	Post 35-Jekyll Island
David Holland	Milledgeville, GA	Post 33-Milledgeville
Jeremy Hopkins	Bowersville, GA	Post 52-Hartwell
Nicholas Hubert	Blairsville, GA	Post 06-Gainesville
Phillip Johnson	LaGrange, GA	Post 02-LaGrange
Quenterrius Kennemore	Rome, GA	Post 03-Cartersville
Gabriel Marcum	Hahira, GA	Post 31-Valdosta
Nathan Marett	Hartwell, GA	Post 51-Gwinnett
Deontress McNeal	Brunswick, GA	Post 23-Brunswick
Andrew Moore	Colbert, GA	Post 52-Hartwell
Michael Noeller	Ringgold, GA	Post 43-Calhoun
Cole Nusall	Lyons, GA	Post 19-Swainsboro
Tyler Pette	Savannah, GA	Post 45-Statesboro
Blake Sikora	Columbus, GA	Post 34-Manchester
Brett Smith	Hoschton, GA	Post 06-Gainesville
Andrew Thompson	Jeffersonville, GA	Post 15-Perry
Jamie Turner	Cordele, GA	Post 30-Cordele
Corey Wells	Atlanta, GA	Post 04-Villa Rica
Kyle Youngblood	Columbus, GA	Post 34-Manchester