FORSYTH - The Georgia State Patrol s 95th Trooper School graduated recently and it included cadets from several places in northeast Georgia, including Gainesville and Murrayville.<br />
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The keynote address was given by Gov. Nathan Deal, who acknowledged troopers for their tenacity, meticulousness, and heart. The course lasted 31 weeks.<br />
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The new trooper from Gainesville is Robert T. Callahan; the one from Murrayville is John F. Giunta. Others from northeast Georgia are from Winder, Mt. Airy, Hartwell, Lavonia and Clayton. (See list below for names and other details about all graduates.)<br />
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Cadets spend 18 weeks at the academy, 12 weeks in field training, and return to the academy for one week of preparation for graduation. <br />
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The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) requires that all peace officers receive a minimum of 400 hours of Basic Mandate Training. At the completion of Trooper School, these newly graduated trooper cadets received over 1,500 hours of training, including driving, defensive tactics, vehicle stops, Spanish, criminal law and criminal procedure, firearms, accident investigation, and various other training.<br />
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During remarks to his fellow class members, Class President, Trooper Nicholas B. Johnson emphasized that to be a Georgia State Trooper you must have discipline, hard work, and perseverance. <br />
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Four of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various fields of study. <br />
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The honorees were:<br />
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" Highest Firearms Proficiency Tpr. Stephen Smith <br />
" Highest Driving Proficiency Tpr. Scott Parker<br />
" Highest Academic Average Tpr. Jonathan Driskell<br />
" Top Gun Tpr. Brian Regain<br />
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Additionally, the following graduates were recognized for their leadership: Tpr. Steven D. Crager, Vice <br />
President; Tpr. Jonathan R. Driskell, Secretary/Treasurer; Tpr. Stephen M. Smith, Sergeant-At-Arms; Tpr. <br />
Israel B. Borup, Pennat Bearer; and Tpr. Jonathan M. Edwards, Chaplain.<br />
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Each commissioned trooper will report to his post on September 1. The new graduates are <br />
assigned to one of the 52 posts throughout the state.<br />
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The new troopers (with their hometown and assigned post included) are:<br />
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Joshua T. Bond Atlanta Post 46 - Monroe<br />
Israel B. Borup Glynn Post 42 - Rincon<br />
Randall L. Bowden Rome Post 3 Cartersville<br />
Robert T. Callahan Gainesville Post 52 Hartwell<br />
Titus J. Cave Loganville Post 52 Hartwell <br />
Steven D. Crager Milledgeville Post 25 Grovetown<br />
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Jonathan R. Driskell Barnesville Post 1 Griffin<br />
Jonathan M. Edwards Wiscasset, ME Post 15 Perry<br />
Richard C. Fleming Hartwell Post 52 Hartwell<br />
Keith D. Flowers Rome Post 3 Cartersville<br />
Roger G. Fuller Lavonia Post 52 Hartwell<br />
Brady J. Galloway Clayton Post 7 Toccoa<br />
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Tyler G. Gay Cadwell Post 20 Dublin<br />
John P. Getty Powell, TN Post 37 Cumming<br />
John F. Giunta Murrayville Post 52 Hartwell<br />
Dillon L. Graves Douglasville Post 3 Cartersville<br />
Brent G. Hammond Springfield Post 45 Statesboro<br />
Frederick D. Henderson Fayetteville Post 24 Newnan<br />
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Nicholas B. Johnson Winder Post 52 Hartwell<br />
Justin K. Jones Folkston Post 22 Waycross<br />
Daniel P. Jordan Guyton Post 42 Rincon<br />
Keith O. Kerrick Hinesville Post 23 Brunswick<br />
Justin L. Killinsworth Monroe Post 46 Monroe<br />
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Kristopher D. Kopp Douglasville Post 9 Marietta<br />
Scott R. Langham Thomson Post 17 Washington<br />
Timothy C. Ledbetter Upson Post 1 Griffin<br />
Kory T. Maloney Adairsville Post 3 Cartersville<br />
Sherman K. McClain Newburgh, NY Post 22 Waycross<br />
Andrew S. Miller Marietta Post 3 Cartersville<br />
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Leonard J. Mullen, III Monroe Post 32 Athens<br />
Skyler A. J. Nettles Brunswick Post 23 Brunswick<br />
Daniel J. Noe Atlanta Post 9 Marietta<br />
Keith H. Oglesby Sylvania Post 45 Statesboro<br />
Brandon C. Parker Bremen Post 4 Villa Rica<br />
Edward S. Parker Rising Fawn Post 28 Jasper<br />
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Brian E. Reagin Hazlehurst Post 20 Dublin<br />
Samuel S. Reid Valdosta Post 13 Tifton<br />
Christian M. Siena New Port Richey, FL Post 23 Brunswick<br />
Garrett T. Smith Grayson Post 52 Hartwell<br />
Stephen M. Smith Bonaire Post 15 Perry<br />
Robert E. Snider Donalsonville Post 14 Colquitt<br />
James S. Vaughan Cordele Post 10 Americus<br />
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Aaron T. Walden Mt. Airy Post 7 Toccoa<br />
Steven C. Welborn Newnan Post 4 Villa Rica<br />
Colin J. Wheeler Binghanton, NY Post 42 Rincon<br />
David P. Whitehead Carrollton Post 4 Villa Rica
