Local trooper among Georgia State Patrol’s newest graduates

The Georgia Department of Public Safety has released the following:

FORSYTH, GA) – The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) graduated its 118th Trooper School Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. After 34 weeks of intense training, 22 new Troopers will report to one of 52 patrol posts around the state.

The Honorable Brian P. Kemp, Georgia Governor, delivered the graduation address and the Oath of Office. Additional remarks were provided by Colonel Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Captain Mark Riley, Director of Training.

Trooper Cadets spend 22 weeks at the academy and 12 weeks training in the field. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) requires all peace officers to receive a minimum of 408 hours of Basic Mandate Training. After completing Trooper School, the graduates 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 training.

During remarks to his fellow class members Trooper Logan South, class president, reflected on the group's journey through Trooper School. 

“In times of adversity, you have a choice: you can let your challenges break you, or you can choose to rise, to build strength from them, and to lead others by example. The world needs leaders who have faced the storms, who know what it feels like to struggle, and who are brave enough to keep moving forward,” challenged South. “Because when you overcome adversity, you don't just grow, you inspire others to do the same," South added. 

Class officers include Trooper William Cowan, Vice President; Trooper Derek Snead, Chaplain; Trooper Bryant Miller, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Trooper Jeremiah Reed, Pennant Bearer. 

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

Driving Proficiency – Trooper William CowanFirearms Proficiency – Trooper Christopher HanleyTop Gun – Trooper Keith BlackHighest Academic Average – Trooper William Cowan

Trooper Cowan who had a 96.9 academic average, received the Cpl. Chadwick LeCroy scholarship to use toward obtaining a degree from Reinhardt University. This scholarship is in honor of Cpl. Chadwick LeCroy, a GSP Trooper, killed in the line of duty on December 27, 2010.

Trooper Rickie Glenn, Jr. received the Patrick Dupree Leadership Award, presented to the cadet who showed leadership throughout the entire class, even though they were not chosen as the class president. Trooper Cadet Dupree passed away Thursday, September 8, 2022, after performing a training exercise along with other members of the 113th Trooper School at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

The 22 newly graduated Troopers are assigned to one of 52 patrol posts throughout the state.

Trooper’s Name

Home County

Post Assignment

Carl Adams

Fayette County

Post 24 – Newnan

Gayrard Ashley

Rockdale County

Post 46 – Monroe

Keith Black

Whitfield County

Post 5 – Dalton

Brandon Burke

Habersham County

Post 37 – Cumming

Laine Carden

Gordon County

Post 3 – Cartersville

William Cowan

Newton County

Post 46 – Monroe

Daniel Gay

Bulloch County

Post 45 - Statesboro

Rickie Glenn, Jr.

Madison County

Post 32 – Athens

Christopher Hanley

Camden County

Post 11 – Hinesville

Jonathan Holbrook

Stewart County

Post 39 – Cuthbert

Donnie Ivey

Carroll County

Post 4 – Villa Rica

Bryant Miller

Henry County

Post 33 – Milledgeville

Nicholas Nagy

Barrow County

Post 51 – Gwinnett

Josiah Redman

Hall County

Post 6 – Gainesville

Jeremiah Reed

Jeff Davis County

Post 47 – Forest Park

Derek Snead 

Jasper County

Post 8 – Madison

Logan South

Clarke County

Post 32 – Athens 

Christopher Torres

Tift County

Post 13 – Tifton

Timothy Vallely

Candler County

Post 21 – Sylvania