Lafayette – Four new troopers from the Lafayette Post joined their classmates from the 75th Recruit Academy this morning to receive their first patrol cars at the Indiana State Police Museum. The ceremony began with Superintendent Carter addressing the 45 new troopers from around the state, he said to them “this is a big day for you, your families, for our department and for your communities.” Carter also recognized the Indiana State Police logistics staff, the mechanics and the installers for their countless hours spent preparing these cars. Each rookie car was previously assigned to a trooper and had anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000 miles on it. Captain Jay Nawrocki said “each of these cars took an average of 40 man hours for preparation, each car received a full service including brakes, oil change, lighting packages, touch-up paint, tires and new equipment, not to mention any repairs to insure the safety of these cars.”
Leading up to today these troopers have endured a lengthy hiring process, over 500 hours of classroom instruction, and over 300 hours of hands on practical scenario based instruction. Upon graduation from the Indiana State Police Academy in December of 2015 the troopers spent nearly four months in field training, a period in which each trainee works side by side with a veteran trooper.
After months of training, today marks the day these troopers will begin solo patrol. Three will work the north zone area which covers White, Clinton, Tippecanoe and Carroll Counties while the fourth will patrol the south zone which includes Benton, Warren, Montgomery and Fountain Counties.
Probationary Trooper Colton R. Maynor is a native of Cloverdale, IN and is a 2012 graduate of South Putnam High School. He continued his education at Vincennes University receiving an Associate Degree in Law Enforcement. His primary patrol area will be Carroll, White, Clinton and Tippecanoe Counties.
Probationary Trooper Peter R. Stephan is a native of Kokomo, IN where he was home schooled. He continued his education at Indiana Wesleyan University receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology in 2015. His primary patrol duties will be Carroll, White, Clinton and Tippecanoe Counties.
Probationary Trooper Jeremy Piers is a native of Washington, IL where he graduated from Washington Community High School in 2012. He is continuing his education by attending Western Illinois University and will finish on line in the near future with a degree in Law Enforcement and a minor in Sociology. His primary patrol duties are Carroll, White, Clinton and Tippecanoe Counties.
Probationary Trooper Kevin L. Jeffries is a native of Fountain County and a 2008 graduate of Covington Community High School. He graduated from Indiana State University in 2012 with a degree in Aviation Flight Technology. He is currently in the United States Army National Guard as a Lieutenant, platoon leader/MEDEVAC pilot. Jeffries will patrol Fountain, Montgomery, Benton and Warren Counties.
Picture is left to right Piers, Stephan, Maynor and Jeffries.
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