APRIL 29, 2021

Thirty Arkansas State Police Recruits received their trooper commissions tonight during a graduation ceremony that followed the conclusion of a 14 week training academy session.  The recruits were hired from a field of 172 applicants previously certified by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards as Arkansas law enforcement officers.

The graduating class received 860 hours of specialized training and classroom instruction since reporting to the Arkansas State Police Training Academy in Little Rock on January 19th.

Governor Asa Hutchinson, Secretary Jami Cook, Arkansas Department of Public Safety, and Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police, each addressed the recruit class during the graduation ceremony.

The recruit graduates among the Arkansas State Police 2021 Troop School are:

• Austin Kennedy, 27, Recruit Class Leader, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Benton High School and Ouachita Baptist University.
• Joe Willie Anderson, 41, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Dallas County.  He is a graduate of Dollarway High School and Southern Arkansas College in Pine Bluff.
• Adrienne Blecher, 26, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Yell County.  She is a graduate of Russellville High School and Arkansas Tech University.
• Britni Binam, 26, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Benton County.  She is a graduate of Fort Zumwalt North High School and the University of Arkansas.
• Clayton Bloch, 37, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Nettleton High School and Pulaski Tech College.
• William Kade Cash, 26, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Maryville High School and the University of Central Arkansas.
• Jackson A. Daniell, 29, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop K, Hot Springs County.  He is a graduate of Magnet Cove High School.
• Jordan Drake, 23, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop G, Lafayette County.  He is a graduate of Columbia Christian School and the University of Arkansas in Hope-Texarkana.
• Tyler Drum, 29, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Clay County.  He is a graduate of Harrisburg High School.
• Alexandria Duncan, 27, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Benton County.  She is a graduate of Viola High School.
• Rusty Ford, 33, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Conway County.  He is a graduate of Cornerstone Christian School.
• Gunner Bradley Fultz, 27, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Crittenden County.  He is a graduate of Paragould High School.
• Ronald Grace, 32, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Conway High School.
• Tyler Grant, 24, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Drew County.  He is a graduate of McGehee High School.
• Justin Edward Harper, 29, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Calhoun County.  He is a graduate of Harmony Grove High School and Southern Arkansas Tech University.
• James R. Harrell, 43, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Jefferson County.  He is a graduate of Watson Chapel High School.
• Blake Scott Irvin, 30, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Mississippi County.  He is a graduate of Watson Chapel High School and Arkansas State University.
• Cody Martin, 30, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of England High School.
• Markeith Terrell Neal, 29, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Monroe County.  He is a graduate of Watson Chapel High School.
• Dwayne T. Niles, 29, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of North Little Rock High School and Philander Smith College.
• Keaton Ramsey, 25, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Carroll County.  He is a graduate of Lamar High School and Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
• Kyle Robinson, 27, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Little Rock Central High School and Southern Arkansas University in Camden.
• Zachary Rogers, 24, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Washington County.  He is a graduate of Hebron High School and the University of Arkansas.
• Kemp Smith, 25, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Arkadelphia High School.
• Nicholas Smith, 35, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Parkview High School.
• Mitchell Smothers, 28, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Washington County.  He is a graduate of Springdale High School and the University of Arkansas.
• Andrew C. Stovall, 30, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of Poyen High School and Columbia Southern University.
• Richard H. Surrette, 31, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Benton County.  He is a graduate of Russellville High School and Bryan College University.
• Trevoris Terrel Tatum, 27, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Union County.  He is a graduate of Smackover High School and Southern Arkansas University.
• Tyler Van Schoyck, 29, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County.  He is a graduate of the Sylvan Hills High School and Arkansas Tech University.

Special recognition and awards were presented to the recruits who attained the highest overall academy scores within the respective curriculum and training categories:

 ACADEMICS

1^st place – Britni Binam

2^nd place – Zachary Rogers

3^rd place – Kade Cash

PHYSICAL FITNESS

1^st place – Markeith Neal

2^nd place – Austin Kennedy  

3^rd place – Cody Martin 

FIREARMS

1^st place – Ronald Grace

2^nd place – Gunner Fultz

3^rd place – Austin Kennedy

Over the next two weeks the trooper/recruits will report to their respective assigned Highway Patrol Division troop headquarters.  They will receive an additional five weeks of instruction working alongside a Field Training Officer before being released to work alone as an Arkansas State Trooper.

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