The Ohio State Highway Patrol recently held a graduation ceremony for 46 cadets at the Patrol’s Training Academy. The new troopers include one that has been assigned to the Marion Post.
The Patrol’s 150th Academy Class graduated today after 29 weeks of rigorous law enforcement training. The keynote address was made by Speaker of the House, William G. Batchelder. Additional remarks were provided by Director Thomas P. Charles, Ohio Department of Public Safety; Colonel John Born, Patrol Superintendent; Captain Robert W. Markowski, Academy Commandant; Judge Peter B. Abele, Fourth Appellate District, Ohio Court of Appeals; and Reverend Richard D. Ellsworth, Ohio State Highway Patrol Chaplain. All addressed the graduates and presented their commissions and certificates of training.
Courses completed by the 150th class included firearms, traffic and criminal laws, self-defense, human relations and crash investigation training. Cadets also drove on the performance track at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy (OPOTA) in London.
Trooper Juan R. Santiago, Jr. of Lorain, Ohio, was selected class speaker and thanked the Academy and the families of the Cadets for being so supportive during their training.
Five of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various fields of study at the Patrol Academy. The honorees are:
Overall performance – Trooper Jared L. Haslar of Canal Fulton, Ohio
Top performance in firearms – Trooper Ryan O. Maynard of Milford, Ohio
Top performance in driving – Trooper Samuel L. Davis of Amanda, Ohio, and Trooper Gary J. Sweeney of Cortland, Ohio
Top performance in physical training – Trooper Evan M. Slates of Bowling Green, Ohio
Top performance in academics – Trooper Gary J. Sweeney of Courtland, Ohio
Each of the commissioned troopers will report to their posts on Monday, May 2. The graduates’ first 60 working days will be a field-training period under the guidance of a veteran officer. The new graduates are assigned to 20 of the Patrol’s 55 posts.
Below is the Academy Class Roster
CADET – HOMETOWN – ASSIGNMENT
Damion D. Assink – Willowick – Ashtabula
Kyle J. Baxter – Van Wert – Wapakoneta
Devon M. Black – Bowling Green – Defiance
Jodi E. Bowlen – Austintown – Bucyrus
Bobby D. Brown – Columbus – Chillicothe
Jesse L. Brown – Ashland – Ashland
Joshua B. Bumgardner – Scio – Canfield
Zachary Q. Coleman – Garfield Heights – Piqua
Kristi J. Comstock – Findlay – Marion
Joshua C. Craft – Portsmouth – Ironton
Carl J. Daniel – Tiffin – Bucyrus
Samuel L. Davis – Amanda – Chillicothe
Daniel L. DeLuca – Boardman – Mansfield
Ashley E. Elliott – Waverly – Wilmington
Robert A. Ernst – Hamersville – Wilmington
Ayrizanna S. Favours – Columbus – Mt.Gilead
Charles W. Fourspring – Albion – Gallipolis
Stephen D. Gillum – Shiloh – Mansfield
Alexis A. Guilkey – Fairfield – Lebanon
Laura M. Harvey – Loveland – Ironton
Jared L. Haslar – Canal Fulton – Medina
Darren R. Johnson – Hopedale – Canfield
Matthew A. Kohlman – Sylvania – Toledo
Ryan D. LaMarr – Wapakoneta – Piqua
Brett M. Lee – Lancaster – Lebanon
Jacob R. Mann – Cincinnati – Dayton
Ryan O. Maynard – Milford – Batavia
Brian M. McGill – Madison – Chardon
Mac A. McLaughlin – Mt.Gilead – Mt.Gilead
Daniel W. Morrison – Cortland – Ashland
Matthew J. Ortiz – Amherst – Springfield
Travis P. Rothenbuhler – Findlay – Findlay
Juan R. Santiago Jr – Lorain – Ashland
Kenneth L. Schirg Jr. – Sandusky – Springfield
Evan M. Slates – Bowling Green – Bowling Green
Erik N. Souders – Amelia Crt. Hse – Ashtabula
Gary J. Sweeney – Cortland – Ashtabula
Drew A. Untied – Cincinnati – Batavia
Casimir A. Vonsacken – Toledo – Lima
Brenton S. Walker – Riverside – Dayton
Evan A. Williams – Canton – Mansfield
Jason C. Williams – Columbus – Wilmington
Burt A. Wilson – Albany – Jackson
Chad W. Wilson – Mason – Dayton
Eric M. Wilson – Allegany – Marysville
Austin H. Young – Fremont – Norwalk
