The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has officially welcomed 130 new Troopers to the Texas Highway Patrol. The graduation ceremony for recruit Class B-2024 took place at Shoreline Church in Austin, with DPS personnel and members of the Public Safety Commission present, including Chairman Steven P. Mach and Commissioners Nelda Blair, Dan Hord III, Larry Long, and Steve Stodghill.
Chairman Mach expressed his admiration for the graduates, stating, "Recruit graduations are incredibly special for members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and it is an honor to recognize the outstanding commitment, dedication and drive of these incoming Texas State Troopers." He added that "the future of public safety is brighter because of these men and women."
Commissioner Long delivered a keynote address during the ceremony. He remarked on the training received by the recruits over the past 30 weeks: "The last 30 weeks, your training officers have provided you with the skills you need," he said. "Your classmates have given you the support you need. Now it’s up to you to take all of that and embark on this next phase as you join the ranks of the Texas Tan."
This marks DPS's 176th recruit class. Initially, 1,760 individuals applied for this class; however, only 164 were selected to start their journey on May 20. Of those selected, 130 successfully completed the rigorous 30-week academy.
Colonel Martin highlighted the significance of this achievement: “For those of us who have been watching Class B-2024 over the last 30 weeks, we’ve seen how far you’ve come,” he said. “We’ve seen your grit, your determination, we’ve seen your mental and physical toughness and we’ve seen you come together as a group.”
During their training at the academy, Trooper Trainees received more than 1,200 hours of instruction—far exceeding the mandatory licensing requirement set by TCOLE. Their comprehensive training covered various topics such as criminal law enforcement and emergency medical assistance.
The trainees concluded their program with a Joint Field Training Exercise involving approximately 25 scenarios simulating real-life situations faced by Texas State Troopers.
The newly commissioned Troopers will begin their assignments across Texas starting January 5.
