Arkansas – A graduation ceremony was held in the State Capitol rotunda as thirty-seven recruits officially became Arkansas State Troopers. The recruits were selected from a pool of 420 applicants after undergoing a thorough selection process that included tests and interviews.
The training began on October 13, 2024, at the State Police Training Academy in Little Rock. Over the span of 24 weeks, the recruits completed an extensive program totaling approximately 1,200 hours.
This curriculum covered critical areas such as criminal law, traffic law, accident investigation, firearms training, and defensive tactics. The program was designed to thoroughly prepare recruits for the challenges they will face while serving as Arkansas State Troopers.
During the ceremony, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Cody Hiland swore in the new Troopers. Colonel Mike Hagar, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, along with Major Roby Rhoads, Sergeant Nick Brown, and Corporal Keon Thompson, addressed the graduates.
The audience included senior command staff from the Arkansas State Police (ASP), troop and company commanders, training section cadre, ASP Commissioners, and members of the ASP Foundation.
Clint Bruce, a former NFL athlete, U.S. Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, and founder of the HighgroundHQ Foundation, served as the keynote speaker, offering words of encouragement and insight for the new Troopers as they embark on their law enforcement careers.