FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, Oct. 23, 2015

CONTACT:   Tony Mangan, Department of Public Safety, 605-773-6196

Highway Patrol Graduation Friday, Oct. 30

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s Highway Patrol welcomes its latest group of nine troopers during a graduation ceremony to be held Friday, Oct. 30, in the state Capitol Rotunda.

Class 57, consisting of eight men and one woman, graduates after eight months of rigorous training. The recruits first completed the basic law enforcement training, then attended the South Dakota Highway Patrol Recruit Academy, which was followed by field training. The period from initial application to graduation is about one year.

“It is not easy to become a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper and it shouldn’t be,” says Col. Craig Price, superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol. “Those who graduate from the Highway Patrol training are prepared for any situation. Graduation is a major accomplishment and this is our chance to officially welcome them into the Highway Patrol.”

The graduating recruits and their duty stations are Jose Barrera, Britton; Sheldon Brakke, Spearfish; Liz Cynkar, Pierre; Cody Ford, Spearfish; Nathan Monger, Faith; Zach O’Neill, Pierre; Joseph Peterson, Presho; Richard Verga, Deadwood; and Kayne Weaver, Chamberlain.

Lt. Gov. Matt Michels is guest speaker at the ceremony, which starts at 10 a.m.  At the end of graduation, the new troopers will receive their patrol cars which will be parked behind the state Capitol. Many of the graduates are scheduled to be on duty as early as Saturday, Oct. 31.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony.

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