The Tennessee Highway Patrol Welcomes 33 New Graduates

The newest graduating classes of Tennessee State Troopers were greeted on Wednesday, June 18th by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Matt Perry and Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long. During a standard 17-week trooper cadet course, the agency went above and beyond what was required by the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Commission. The Hermitage Hills Baptist Church on Lebanon Pike in Nashville hosted the graduation ceremony. Together, the 33 Trooper Cadet Class 625 graduates have 86 years of combined military service. Nine cadets in the class have bachelor’s degrees, one holds a master’s degree, and two have associate’s degrees. Additionally, Cadet Class 625 ran in Nashville, Tennessee’s Special Olympics Torch Run to promote the Tennessee Special Olympics. During the graduation ceremony, Commissioner Jeff Long was the keynote speaker and administered the oath of office to the newly arrived troopers. For his leadership, work ethic, and academic achievements, Trooper Dustin Garrett received the Trooper Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence and was chosen as the top cadet for Trooper Cadet Class 625. The award bears the name of Trooper Calvin Jenks, who died in January 2007 while in the line of duty.