Hart state police post receives 3 new troopers

Hammerle

HART – Three recently graduated state police troopers have been assigned to the Michigan State Police Hart Post. They include Alexander Hammerle of Mt.Pleasant, Aaron Tubergen of Holland and Barry Wolf of HowardCity.

They were among 90 troopers who recently graduated from the 124^thTrooperRecruitSchool. Governor Rick Snyder served as the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony, held last week.

“The graduates of the 124th MichiganStatePoliceTrooperRecruitSchool will play a critical role in public safety for our state, helping make communities and neighborhoods safer for our families and our economic vitality,” Gov. Snyder said.  “These new troopers should all be proud of their accomplishments in proving they have what it takes to enter this elite force. On behalf of Michiganders, thank you for your commitment, dedication and professionalism in service to our great state. We owe you a debt of gratitude, and wish you all long, safe, and rewarding careers.”

Tubergen

Funding made available as part of Governor Snyder’s public safety plan allowed for the hiring of 180 troopers in fiscal year 2013, which includes this graduating class and the 78 troopers who graduated from the 123rd TrooperRecruitSchool in October 2012. These additional troopers will help support law enforcement efforts in the state’s most violent cities of Flint, Detroit, Pontiac and Saginaw, as well as underserved communities throughout the state.

“To accept the honor of becoming a trooper is to also embrace and recognize the department’s proud traditions and high standards of service through excellence, integrity and courtesy,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the state police, during her address to the recruits.  “You have a mission to serve and protect because policing is a duty of the highest honor—with the highest responsibilities, the highest visibility and some of the greatest challenges.  The department demands and the public deserves nothing less than your best every day.”

“With this graduation, not only do these recruits become troopers, they and their families are now members of our Michigan State Police family and part of a 96-year proud tradition,” said Etue.

Wolf

The 124^thTrooperRecruitSchool began on Oct. 28, 2012, when 114 prospective troopers reported to the MSPTrainingAcademy in Lansing.  For the past 22 weeks, recruits received training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing and precision driving.  Graduating recruits were assigned to MSP work sites across the state and will report to their respective posts for duty next week.

Of the 90 graduating recruits, 78 have continued their education with college studies, 16 have served in the United States Military and 12 have prior law enforcement experience.

The department solicited over 2,000 potential candidates for the 124th TrooperRecruitSchool.  Sgt. Kevin Rod was the Recruit School Commander. Special emphasis was given to recruiting military veterans and certified police officers without employment.  In order to be selected to attend the academy, all applicants had to pass a stringent selection process that included a physical fitness test, background investigation and hiring interview.

The 125^th Trooper Recruit School is set to begin May 12, 2013, and an additional trooper recruit school is anticipated in early 2014. Interested candidates should visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs for more information on how to apply.

As of March 2, 2013, there were 886 at-post troopers stationed at 29 posts across Michigan.