(LITTLE ROCK) – Twenty-eight Arkansas State Police Trooper Recruits graduated tonight during ceremonies at the Arkansas State Capitol.
The recruits received the Oath of State Trooper Commission from the Honorable Clinton K. Jones, Washington County, District Judge.
The recruit class initially reported for duty on January 20th this year. Each class member has accumulated 1,044 hours of classroom studies and practical training. The recruits are eligible for 41 college credit hours toward a Criminal Justice degree from Black River Technical College at Pocahontas.
Governor Mike Beebe was the keynote speaker addressing the graduates and Colonel Stan Witt, Director of the Arkansas State Police, presented the new troopers their commissions.
Other dignitaries present included representatives of the Arkansas State Police Commission and State Police Division, Troop and Company commanders.
Graduates of the 2014 class are:
• Travis L. Eddleman, 31, of Aubrey (Lee County), who served as 2014-A Recruit Class Leader, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop B, Sharp County. Recruit Eddleman is a graduate of Arkansas State University and a U.S. Army veteran.
• Kyle W. Bost, 33, of Little Rock, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. Recruit Bost is a graduate of the University of the Ozarks (Clarksville) and is a U.S. Army veteran.
• Jacob T. Boswell, 23, of Harrison, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Crittenden County. Recruit Boswell is a graduate of the University of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, Missouri).
• Patrick A. Claggett, 27, of Lowell, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop H, Logan County. Recruit Claggett is a U.S. Army veteran.
• Rodney E. Davenport, 28, of Brinkley, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Monroe County.
• Levi A. Fleming, 23, of Mountain Home, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Phillips County. Recruit Fleming is a graduate of Arkansas State University.
• Joseph F. Gilliland, 31, of Yellville, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop I, Marion County. Recruit Gilliland is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• Logan G. Hall, 24, of Jonesboro, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Crittenden County.
• Justin Wayne Harmon, 22, of Searcy, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Union County.
• Kevin P. Helm, 28, of Melbourne, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Jefferson County. Recruit Helm is a graduate of Ozarka College in Melbourne.
• Nathan L. Holder, 26, of Pindall (Searcy County), will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Crittenden County. Recruit Holder is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• John Brandon Howington, 25, of Bryant, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Arkansas County. Recruit Howington is a U.S. Navy veteran.
• Jason Hutcheson, 50, of Lead Hill (Boone County), will be assigned to Highway Patrol, Troop I, Searcy County.
• Kyle M. Johnson, 24, of Russellville, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Van Buren County.
• Michael A. Lance, 33, of Mena, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop H, Scott County. Recruit Lance is a graduate of Valor Christian College in Columbus, Ohio.
• Stephen R. Lee, 30, of Sherwood, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. Recruit Lee is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, Louisiana) and is a U.S. Air Force veteran.
• Paul A. Meeks Jr., 24, of Atkins, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Van Buren County. Recruit Meeks is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• Christopher B. Neathery, 23, of Gurdon, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop G, Nevada County. Recruit Neathery is a U.S. Army veteran.
• Jacob D. Pack, 23, of Atkins, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Conway County. Recruit Pack is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University.
• Zachary H. Paschal, 27, of Batesville, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Poinsett County.
• Justin A. Pool, 22, of Dardanelle, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Desha County.
• Matthew G. Ritchie, 30, of the Sardis community (Pulaski County), will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. Recruit Ritchie is a graduate of Arkansas State University and a U.S. Army veteran.
• Wade Schanzlin, 36, of Camden, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Ouachita County. Recruit Schanzlin is a graduate of South Arkansas University Tech.
• Randall W. Schwab, 24, of Fayetteville, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Crittenden County. Recruit Schwab is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.
• Ryne G. Shelton, 23, of Dierks, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop G, Lafayette County. Recruit Shelton is a graduate of Henderson State University.
• Christopher M. Short, 34, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop G, Howard County. Recruit Short is a graduate of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
• Timothy Starson, 25, of Fort Smith, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Mississippi County. Recruit Starson is a graduate of Arkansas State University.
• Matthew D. West, 23, of Wynne, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, St. Francis County.
Special recognition and awards were presented to the recruits who attained the highest scores within the respective training categories listed as follows:
• Academics
- Recruit Travis Eddleman
- Recruit Matthew Ritchie
- Recruit Jacob Boswell
• Physical Fitness
- Recruit Timothy Starson
- Recruit Stephen Lee
- Recruit Jacob Boswell
• Firearms
- Recruit Kyle Bost
- Recruit Logan Hall
- Recruit Randall Schwab
Upon reporting for duty at their respective troop headquarters, the new troopers will be placed with a certified departmental Field Training Officer (FTO). Each graduate will work in tandem with their respective FTO for a twelve-week transitional period prior to being released to their assignment.