By Staff
From staff reports
Thirty-seven new Alabama state troopers were sworn into service Thursday during graduation ceremonies in Montgomery. Department of Public Safety Director Col. W.M. Coppage administered the oath of office to commission the new troopers.
Coppage commended the troopers for their achievement and welcomed them to the ranks of the Highway Patrol.
The graduating troopers completed 24 weeks of training at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center in Selma in preparation for initial duty assignments in the Highway Patrol Division. After reporting to trooper posts across Alabama, they begin 10 weeks of field training under the supervision of veteran troopers.
Several class members were recognized for outstanding achievement among their peers.
Coppage said the addition of these newest troopers to the Highway Patrol would be valuable to Public Safety's traffic enforcement efforts. He thanked Gov. Bob Riley for his commitment to hiring additional troopers and said another class of troopers is currently in training at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center. Additional classes of troopers are planned this year.
Coppage said the department is seeking qualified applicants for trooper. Recruiting information is available on Public Safety's Web site, www.dps.state.al.us, and at most Highway Patrol and Driver License offices, according to Coppage. Trooper recruiter Lt. Karl Wade also may be reached at (334) 242-3428 to answer questions about the position of Alabama state trooper and other jobs within the Alabama Department of Public Safety.