Full Notification

Eight New Troopers Begin Their Career at the Indianapolis District

Marion County - Eight new state troopers reported for duty Monday November 30^th, at the Indiana State Police Post in Indianapolis.  The troopers are from the class of 46 troopers who just graduated from the 75th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy on Thursday, November 19th.

In June of this year the class began 21 weeks of intense training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. During the training period the recruits received over 500 hours of classroom instruction as well as nearly 300 hours of hands-on practical and scenario based training exercises.

Ryan Kenworthy, 30, from Greentown, Indiana graduated from Eastern High School.  He attended Ball State University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Health and Physical Education. Kenworthy also holds a Personal Trainers Certificate from the National Association of Sports Medicine.  Prior to working for the Indiana State Police, Kenworthy worked as an advanced Physical Education teacher at Heritage Christian High School. Trooper Kenworthy and his wife live in Noblesville. He will be assigned to Boone County.

Perri Boykin, 23, is an Illinois native and graduated from Edwardsville High School in 2010. He attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and graduated in 2015 with a Criminal Justice Degree. Prior to joining the Indiana State Police Boykin worked as a camp counselor and sports referee at the YMCA. Boykin and his wife reside in Marion County. He will be assigned to Marion County.

Cameron Bottema, 30, is a central Indiana native graduating from Greenwood Christian Academy in 2004. Bottema holds bachelor degrees in Christian and Biblical Ministries and Master Degrees in Masters of Ministers and Master of Arts in Theological Studies and is currently completing the coursework for a Doctoral Degree from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake; Indiana. Prior to his employment with ISP, Bottema was the Sports Director at the Gathering Place at Community Church in Greenwood. He continues to serve as pastor at Bethel Friends Church in Mooresville, Indiana. Bottema is not a stranger to the Indiana State Police Department as his grandfather retired from the department at the rank of lieutenant in 1969. Trooper Bottema resides in Johnson County and will be assigned patrol duties Marion County.

Kenneth Lee, 25, of Indianapolis, attended Lawrence Central High School and studied Criminal Justice at Ball State University, graduating with a B.A. in 2013. Lee resides and will be assigned patrol duties in Marion County.

Nathan Parton, 30, grew up in Marion County, Decatur Township. Prior to joining the Indiana State Police Parton attended IUPUI for one year while obtaining an EMT certification and working at Federal Express at night. Parton has also served as a volunteer firefighter with the New Palestine Fire Department. Trooper Parton resides in Morgan County and will be assigned Marion County.

Arturo Azcona III, 23, was raised in Hobart, Indiana and graduated from Chesterton High School in 2011. Azcona studied Criminal Justice at IUPUI in Indianapolis and currently serves in the Indiana National Guard as a 13B cannon crew member since 2012. Prior to his ISP career Azcona worked as a security lieutenant at Rolls Royce in Indianapolis. Azcona is from a law enforcement family as his father serves on the Gary Police Department in northwest Indiana. Trooper Azcona will be working Marion County.

Larry Miers, 30, was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Before joining the Indiana State Police he worked for the Marion County Sheriff’s Department from 2007 to 2015. Miers is from a strong law enforcement family with an older brother working on the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, an identical twin brother working with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and his wife currently serves as a sergeant with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Trooper Miers resides with his wife and daughter in Marion County. Miers will be working Marion County.

Benjamin Polley, 26, is from Avon, Indiana and graduated from Avon High School in 2008. Polley joined the United States Marine Corps and served as a military policeman for four years in Okinawa, Japan, Beaufort, South Carolina and one deployment to Afghanistan. Prior to joining ISP Polley worked as a security officer in loss prevention at Menards. Trooper Polley and his wife reside in Hendricks County and he will be patrolling Boone County.

The new troopers will continue their training for the next three months as part of the ISP Field Training Program.  The Field Training Program pairs new troopers with veteran troopers, or Field Training Officers.  Upon successful completion of their field training, they will be issued their cars and be assigned solo patrol responsibilities.

Photo Identification: Back row left to right, Ryan Kenworthy, Nathan Parton, Cameron Bottema, Kenneth Lee Jr., and Arturo Azcona III.

Front row left to right; Benjamin Polley, Perri Boykin, Larry Miers

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MYERS

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

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