NINE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES GRADUATES JOIN RANKS OF VIRGINIA STATE POLICE
RICHMOND – Among the 59 new Virginia State Police troopers who this week began their careers on patrol in counties and along interstates across the Commonwealth, nine are proud graduates of a Virginia community college. On Thursday, July 3, 2008, the members of the 114th Basic Session graduated at the Virginia State Police Academy in Richmond.
The 59 trooper graduates began their rigorous 35-week training session Oct. 25, 2007. During that time, the new troopers received instruction in more than 100 different subjects spanning hundreds of hours. Academy training included such areas as crime scene investigation, survival Spanish, judicial procedures, self defense, cultural diversity and firearms.
The graduates’ final phase of training began Monday, July 7, 2008, when the new troopers reported to their respective duty assignments. Each trooper will spend a minimum of six weeks with a field training officer learning his or her new patrol area and day-to-day duties.
“This is another great reminder of how our community colleges really serve the community,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “Whether it’s helping to fill the nursing shortage, or the teacher shortage, or in this case helping to keep Virginians safer through the public service of law enforcement, community college graduates perform critical services across the commonwealth. We are extremely proud of these new troopers and wish them Godspeed in their careers.”
Three of the 59 new troopers are graduates of Southwest Virginia Community College. From the town of Lebanon in Russell County is Trooper Benjamin T. Farmer, 21. Trooper Farmer fulfilled “a life-long dream of entering into law enforcement” when he reported to duty Monday in Louisa County, near Richmond. Trooper Farmer achieved his degree in administration of law enforcement/justice. Trooper W.E. “Billy” Harrison, 23, begins his career with State Police assigned to Southampton County in the Chesapeake Division. A veteran volunteer firefighter, Trooper Harrison earned his degree in computer aided drafting and design. Trooper Harrison became a trooper “to help my community.” A criminal justice graduate, Trooper J. Tyler Lyall of Haysi, Va., chose a career with the Virginia State Police for its “many different opportunities the Department has to offer.” The 22-year-old Dickenson County native is assigned to patrol in Greensville County.
After four years serving with the U.S. Air Force, Trooper Chadwick W. Amburgey, 28, of St. Paul, is now on patrol in Southampton County. Trooper Amburgey earned an associate’s degree in computer electronics from Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Va.
Returning to the Metro Richmond area for his first patrol assignments is Trooper Mark D. Barrett, 38, of Midlothian. Trooper Barrett is a graduate of John Tyler Community College. He reported for duty Monday to the Area 8 Office which includes the City of Richmond and Henrico County.
Trooper Michael C. Brill, 23, of Maurertown, returns to Shenandoah County for his patrol assignment with the Virginia State Police. He is assigned to the Culpeper Division’s Area 14 Office. Trooper Brill is a graduate of Lord Fairfax Community College.
Trooper Matthew P. Dennis, 24, returns to Virginia Beach for his first patrol assignment with State Police. Trooper Dennis is a graduate of Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University. Trooper Dennis credits a family member with getting him interested in pursuing a career with State Police.
Trooper Matthew T.D. Hand, 22, of Gasburg, Va., also returns home to Brunswick County as a member of the Area 35 Office for his first patrol assignment with the Department. Trooper Hand earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Southside Virginia Community College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Radford University. He chose to pursue a career as a trooper “to make a difference” and “to be a positive role model in my community.”
Reporting to duty in Shenandoah County is Trooper Jonathan R. Pine, 24. A native of Mount Crawford in Rockingham County, Trooper Pine earned an associate’s degree in forestry from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge, Va.
As the need for highly-skilled and capable law enforcement officers increases, the Department continues to seek qualified applicants for the trooper and commercial vehicle enforcement officer positions. All interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Virginia State Police Recruitment Office at the toll-free number 1-866-877-2329 or visit the Department’s Web site www.virginiatrooper.org.
###
Graduate photos are available to media by e-mail. Please contact Ms. Dorothy Bernstein, Public Relations Coordinator, at Dorothy.bernstein@vsp.virginia.gov
Virginia State Police Media Release
http://www.vsp.virginia.gov
Administrative Headquarters
7700 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23235
Contact: Corinne Geller, Public Relations Mgr., (804) 674-2789
Additional contact info:
Jeff Kraus, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Relations
Virginia’s Community Colleges
804-819-4949
jkraus@vccs.edu