(LITTLE ROCK) – Twenty-nine Arkansas State Police Trooper Recruits graduated tonight at the Arkansas State Capitol.
The class members initially reported for training on May 17, 2015 and accumulated 1,085 classroom and practical training hours over the past twenty weeks.
Governor Asa Hutchinson was the keynote speaker addressing the graduates and assisted Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police, in presenting the new troopers their commissions.
The Honorable Rhonda Wood, Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice, administered the Oath of Commission.
Other dignitaries present included representatives of the Arkansas State Police Commission and State Police Division, Troop and Company commanders.
Graduates of the Arkansas State Police 2015 Troop School are:
• Dean M. Pitchford, 36, of Austin (Lonoke County) served as 2015 Recruit Class Leader and will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Clay County. Recruit Pitchford is a graduate of the University of Phoenix.
• Russell A. Aiken, 26, of Mountain View, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Washington County.
• Bryant L. Cooper, 31, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Arkansas County. Recruit Cooper is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• Jeffery D. Cross, 31, of Little Rock, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Phillips County.
• Corey L. Earls, 30, of Atkins, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Conway County.
• David G. Evans, 23, of Joplin, Missouri, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Chicot County. Recruit Evans is a graduate of Missouri State University.
• Daniel Farias, 30, of Laredo, Texas, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. Recruit Farias is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
• David L. Fielding, 26, of Magnolia, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop G, Lafayette County. Recruit Fielding is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University.
• Benjamin Ibarra, 26, of El Paso, Texas, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop H, Franklin County.
• Deston T. Linkous, 23, of Magnolia, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Van Buren County.
• Bob Love, 29, of Pine Bluff, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Jefferson County.
• Terry L. May, 22, of Dardanelle, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop K, Polk County.
• Larry E. Mitchell, 21, of Gurdon, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop G, Hempstead County.
• Andrew L. Pannell, 31, of Dierks, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Lincoln County.
• Logan P. Pate, 24, of Dover, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Mississippi County. Recruit Pate is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• Grady A. Pettigrew, 26, of Wynne, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Lee County. Recruit Pettigrew is a graduate of Crowley’s Ridge College (Paragould).
• Caleb A. Pevehouse, 23, of Fort Smith, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Drew County.
• Brandon K. Porter, 23, of Pine Bluff, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Jefferson County.
• Joshua G. Porter, 29, of Augusta, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop H, Sebastian County. Recruit Porter is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• Bryson A. Schulz, 22, of Newport, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Chicot County.
• Patrick T. Salmon, 23, of Mountain Home, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Mississippi County.
• Kyle L. Sheldon, 28, of Malvern, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop K, Hot Spring County.
• Aaron O. Thomas, 24, of Jonesboro, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop B, Jackson County.
• Joshua A. Valentin, 35, of Harrison, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop I, Boone County.
• Michael S. Valentin, 34, of Jasper, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop I, Boone County.
• Evan T. Stobaugh, 22, of Hattieville (Conway County), will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Drew County. Recruit Stobaugh is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• Zechariah D. Whitney, 23, of Pearcy (Garland County), will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop H, Crawford County.
• Limon C. Williams, 25, of Clarendon, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Phillips County.
• Ryan I. Wingo, 22, of Hot Springs, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Bradley County.
Special recognition and awards were presented to the recruits who attained the highest scores within the respective training categories listed as follows:
• Academic
- Recruit Kyle Sheldon
- Recruit Benjamin Ibarra
- Recruit Patrick Salmon
• Physical Fitness
- Recruit Lee Cooper
- Recruit Logan Pate
- Recruit Corey Earls
• Firearms
- Recruit Ryan Wingo
- Recruits (tie) Corey Earls and Caleb Pevehouse
- Recruit Deston Linkous
Upon reporting for duty at their respective troop headquarters, the new troopers will be placed with a certified departmental Field Training Officer (FTO). Each graduate will work in tandem with their respective FTO for a transitional period prior to being released to their assignment.
