Indianapolis – Three new troopers from the Versailles 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. Troopers Jordan Craig, Tia Deaton, and Michael Thiron will all be assigned zone one which consists of Jackson and Bartholomew Counties.
Jordan Craig, age 28, is a 2005 graduate of East Central High School. After high school graduation, Craig attended Cincinnati State University before joining the United States Navy, where he served from 2006 to 2010. In 2011, Craig was hired as a police officer in Greensburg, IN. He held that position until he was accepted into the Indiana State Police Academy in June of 2015.
Tia Deaton, age 25, is a 2009 graduate of Scottsburg High School. After high school graduation, Deaton attended Ivy Tech Community College where she graduated in 2013 with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to being accepted into the Indiana State Police Academy, she worked as an attendant at the Madison State Hospital from 2010-2014 and as a technician at ILPEA Industries in Scottsburg from 2014-2015.
Michael Thiron, age 21, is a 2012 graduate of Taylor County High School in Campbellsville, KY. After high school graduation, Thiron attended Elizabethtown Community College when he graduated in 2014 with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to being accepted into the Indiana State Police Academy, he worked as an auto mechanic at Tom Wood Honda in Frankton, IN.
Attached: Picture 1: 75th Recruit Class Receiving Their New Commissions
Picture 2: Troopers Jordan Craig, Tia Deaton, and Michael Thiron
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