Updated 1/2/20

Commissioner Jeff Long of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security welcomed the newest troopers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), Cadet Class 1219.

The 37 cadets earned their badges and delivered their oaths of office after completing 20 weeks of intense physical and classroom training at the THP Training Center.

Graduates of the Cadet Class 1219 included 10 veterans, 13 have a bachelor’s degree, six have an associate’s degree, one was an EMT and eight had various other backgrounds.

 “Each time that we graduate a class of new troopers, I feel extremely proud and honored,” Colonel Dereck R. Stewart said.

Trooper Alexander Carrick of Lawrence County was named top cadet and presented the Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence for his leadership, work ethic and academics. The award was named in honor of the late Trooper Jenks, who was killed in the line of duty in January 2007.

The new graduates will continue their training with troopers classified as field training officers, totaling more than 400 hours of hands-on experience in the field.