44 New State Troopers Graduate WSP Basic Training

OLYMPIA, WA — Dozens of graduates received their commissions as state troopers Wednesday after completing more than 1,400 hours of classroom and practical training at the Washington State Patrol Academy in Shelton.

WSP welcomed its 44 newest troopers to the ranks during a swearing-in and graduation ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda. Officials said the 116th graduating class completed nearly 8,400 driver contacts during training, removing nearly 600 impaired drivers from the road and helping investigate more than 1,000 crashes.

Members of the graduating class, supported by family and friends, were sworn in Wednesday by the state Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Gonzalez. The new troopers will begin assignments across the region.

"We're suffering an all-time high in terms of fatality collisions that are occurring dating back to 2005," WSP Chief John Batiste told the graduates. "You're here to help us curb that trend in the right direction."

The graduates hail from hometowns across the Evergreen State and are slated to take on their new roles in every part of the state, from Seattle, Bellevue and Tacoma to Wenatchee, Ellensburg and Yakima.