EMPHASIS: 29 New Troopers To Graduate From Missouri State Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces that 29 troopers will graduate from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on Friday, July 23, 2021. The ceremony will take place on the South Lawn of the Missouri State Capitol and the public is invited. The graduation ceremony will be live-streamed on the Patrol’s YouTube channel via this link https://youtu.be/qcwnrezjtlc. The graduation ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. The 111th Recruit Class reported to the Academy on February 1, 2021, to begin the 25-week training to become a trooper. The new troopers will report to duty in their assigned troops on August 9, 2021.

Four class awards will be presented. The recruits accumulate points toward graduation in the categories of physical fitness, firearms, and academics throughout their 25 weeks at the Academy. The person with the highest number of points in each category earns the respective award. Award categories include physical fitness, firearms, academics, and the Superintendent’s Award, which is presented to the person with the most points overall.

The names (hometowns) and first assignments of members of the 111th Recruit Class are listed below:

Troop A
Aaron K. Booker (Blue Springs, MO), Zone 7, Jackson County
Devan J. Harms (Kansas City, MO), Zone 12, Johnson County
Colten B. Henderson (Spokane, MO), Zone 14, Bates County
Nathaniel J. Medrano (Independence, MO), Zone 12, Johnson County
Derek Peters (Sedalia, MO), Zone 10, Saline County
Ryan K. Stearns (Marshall, MO), Zone 3, Clay County

Troop B

Ezekiel G. Schieferdecker (Hurdland, MO), Zone 4, Putnam/Sullivan Counties
Eric J. Smith (Hannibal, MO), Zone 7, Lewis/Knox Counties
Elijah N. Stinson (Poplar Bluff, MO), Zone 3, Linn/Chariton Counties


Troop C
Cyle C. Battreal (Pomona, MO), Zone 16, Ste. Genevieve/Perry Counties
Dylan H. Bert (Cypress, TX), Zone 8, St. Charles County
Almedin Birdzo (St. Louis, MO), Zone 5, Pike/Lincoln Counties
Collin P. Brown (Ballwin, MO), Zone 11, Franklin County
Zachary T. Chastain (Crane, MO), Zone 10, Franklin County
Raymond M. Dressler (St. Louis, MO), Zone 7, Warren County
Christopher A. Gates (St. Ann, MO), Zone 1, N. St. Louis County
Kaleig A. Mitchell (Overland Park, KS), Zone 5, Pike/Lincoln Counties
Matthew Smith (Ballwin, MO), Zone 4, S. St. Louis County
Jeffrey J. Wilt (Shelbina, MO), Zone 14, St. Francois/Washington Counties

Troop D

Levi H. Crowe (Carthage, MO), Zone 3, Polk County
Joshua T. Martin (Sarcoxie, MO), Zone 13, Newton/McDonald Counties


Troop E

James E. Williams (Charleston, MO), Zone 6, Scott/Mississippi/New Madrid Counties
David L. McKnight (Sikeston, MO), Zone 7, Scott/Mississippi/New Madrid Counties
Roberto C. Rodriguez Penaflor (Senath, MO), Zone 11, Stoddard County

Troop F
Samuel L. Ponder (New Bloomfield, MO), Zone 3, Boone County

Troop G
Kenneth H. Hall (Ellsinore, MO), Zone 8, Carter/Reynolds Counties

Troop H
Molly H. Gach (St. Joseph, MO), Zone 6, Buchanan/Andrew Counties

Troop I

Troyjacob E. Ebeling (Rolla, MO), Zone 9, Crawford County
Samuel J. Hallam (Joplin, MO), Zone 8, Laclede County



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