This past weekend Commissioner Jeff Long of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security welcomed the newest troopers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Cadet Class 1219. The graduation ceremony took place at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Nashville. The 37 cadets earned their badges and delivered their oaths of office after completing 20-weeks of intense physical and classroom training at the Patrol’s Training Center.
The 37 graduates of Cadet Class 1219 included 10 Veterans, 13 have a Bachelor’s degree, six have an Associate’s degree, one was an EMT and eight had various other backgrounds.
As part of a class community service project, Class 1219 participated in a blood drive with the American Red Cross, collecting 29 units of blood. Class 1219 also collected $412 dollars to go along with toys that will be donated to Toys for Tots program.
NThe new graduates will continue their training with troopers classified as Field Training Officers, totaling more than 400 hours of hands-on experience in the field.