VSP News Release s1

Virginia State Police www.vsp.virginia.gov Media Release

News Release No. 23 For Immediate Release: November 19, 2014 VSP WELCOMES 50 TROOPERS TO THE DEPARTMENT 122nd Basic Session Begins Statewide Patrols Thanksgiving Week

RICHMOND – As the nation prepares for the Thanksgiving holiday, 50 new troopers will join their veteran colleagues on the road and spend Thanksgiving patrolling the Commonwealth to ensure motorists are driving to save lives. On Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, the Department of State Police will welcome its latest generation of troopers during a graduation ceremony held at the State Police Training Academy located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County. Commencement exercises for the 122nd Basic Session begin at 10 a.m.

The new troopers have received more than 1,600 hours of classroom and field instruction in more than 100 different subjects, including defensive tactics, crime scene investigation, ethics and leadership, survival Spanish, police professionalism, firearms, judicial procedures, officer survival, cultural diversity and crisis management.

Selected from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants, the members of the 122nd Basic Session began probating Feb. 25, 2014, followed by 26 weeks of academic, physical and practical training at the Academy since May 25, 2014. The probationary phase, which allows recruits to train in the field prior to attending the Academy, requires trainees to complete two and half weeks of introductory training at the Academy before being assigned to a Field Training Officer (FTO).

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In June, the class assisted with VSP’s social media campaign to draw attention to Virginia’s first-ever “Move Over Awareness Month.” The 122nd Basic Session ended the daily Facebook posts with a photo, joined by Colonel Steve Flaherty and his wife, to remind motorists about the state law.

Prior to entering the Academy to begin their state police law enforcement career, a number of the graduating troopers served with other law enforcement agencies and/or with a branch of the military. Collectively, the

class encompasses more than 46 years of previous law enforcement and corrections experience, as well as almost 73 years of prior military service.

Members of the 122nd Basic Session are from every corner of the Commonwealth as well as Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York. Many in the class sought out the Virginia State Police because “of their excellent reputation…the past has built a strong foundation, the present is upholding that foundation, and I want to be part of the future” and “for the various career paths offered throughout the organization.” . Upon graduation, the new troopers will report to their individual duty assignments across Virginia beginning Nov. 24, 2014, for their final phase of training. Each trooper will spend an additional six weeks paired up with an FTO learning his or her new patrol area.

Individual trooper’s photos are available to the media via e-mail. Please contact Ms. Dorothy Bernstein at [email protected]

122nd BASIC GRADUATING CLASS

Regional Media Contacts Statewide (804)674-2789 Richmond (804)553-3494 Culpeper (540)829-7713 Appomattox (434)352-7128 Wytheville (276)228-3131 Chesapeake (757)424-6827 Salem/Roanoke (540)375-9598 Fairfax (804)674-2789 Find VSP on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaStatePolice Virginia State Police www.vsp.virginia.gov Media Release Name Hometown Assignment Muhammad Ismail Abbasi Lorton Prince William Ryan Christopher Amos Stuart Greensville Jonathan Averett Barbour Appomattox Nelson Joshua Eugene Barner Powhatan Dinwiddie Marshall Tyler Brill Maurertown Culpeper Kevin Jerome Brown Drakes Branch Accomack Gabriel Antonio Brumett-Padin Alexandria Arlington Benjamin Nicholas Canning Williamsburg Henrico Brittany Lynn Clift Fredericksburg King George James Lloyd Cooper, III Mechanicsville Prince William John Tyler Copley Chesapeake Norfolk / Virginia Beach Robert Daniel Cullison Chesterfield Northumberland Ira Jamal Dallam, Sr. Jacksonville, Florida Prince William Chad Phillip Dermyer Jackson, Michigan Hampton / Newport News Lucas Bartley Dowell Chilhowie Albemarle Christopher Latrell Foster Cumberland Buckingham William Charles Fugate, II Abingdon Nelson Robert Franklin Giles, Jr. Ewing Greensville Carlos Manuel Gonzalez Pemberton, New Jersey Prince William Adam Willard Gross Surry Sussex Robert Morgan Guyton, III Stafford Prince William Kalyn Demond Hall Chesapeake Hampton / Newport News Jonathan Lee Harris Henrico King William Sean Michael Hovendon Oakhurst, New Jersey Arlington Brett James Hylton Danville Prince Edward Sean Michael Jordan Egg Harbor Township, Dinwiddie New Jersey Taylor Ann Jukanovich Las Vegas, Nevada Prince William Joshua Alan Kersey Midlothian Springfield David Grant Kidd Chesapeake Arlington Matthew Michael Kilmer Winchester Prince William Steven Gary Kolodzinski Chicago, Illinois Caroline Gavin Tyler Lee Giles County Buckingham Daniel Lewis Lundy Carroll County Rockbridge Justin Matthew Lyle Southampton Southampton Regional Media Contacts Statewide (804)674-2789 Richmond (804)553-3494 Culpeper (540)829-7713 Appomattox (434)352-7128 Wytheville (276)228-3131 Chesapeake (757)424-6827 Salem/Roanoke (540)375-9598 Fairfax (804)674-2789 Find VSP on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaStatePolice Virginia State Police www.vsp.virginia.gov Media Release Joshua Scott Marshall Wise Rockbridge John Michael Nunley Max Meadows Pulaski Kara Elizabeth Pegram Henry County Henry Mark Edward Porter Chesterfield Hanover David Lee Sheridan Kents Store Buckingham Byron Davis Spangler Goochland County Hanover Travis Dean Sykes Damascus Pulaski Deandre Sharod Thomas Riverdale, Georgia Hampton / Newport News Victor Jose Ubieta Cutler Bay, Florida Richmond Richard Michael Verbeeck Middlesex Norfolk / Virginia Beach Brett Michael Vosburg DeRuyter, New York Prince William Timothy John Waldron Louisa Caroline Thomas Michael Wertz Roanoke Greensville Mark Allen Whitener Shreveport, Louisiana Southampton Donald Lee Williams, III Smithfield Isle of Wight William Reese Wooding, III South Boston Lunenburg

Regional Media Contacts Statewide (804)674-2789 Richmond (804)553-3494 Culpeper (540)829-7713 Appomattox (434)352-7128 Wytheville (276)228-3131 Chesapeake (757)424-6827 Salem/Roanoke (540)375-9598 Fairfax (804)674-2789 Find VSP on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaStatePolice