VW resident graduates with Patrol class

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol held a graduation ceremony for 46 cadets, including a Van Wert resident, at the Patrol’s Training Academy.

The Patrol’s 150th Academy Class graduated today after 29 weeks of rigorous law enforcement training. Ohio Speaker of the House William G. Batchelder made the keynote address. Director Thomas P. Charles, Ohio Department of Public Safety; Colonel John Born, Patrol superintendent; Captain Robert W. Markowski, academy commandant; Judge Peter B. Abele, Fourth Appellate District, Ohio Court of Appeals; and Reverend Richard D. Ellsworth, Ohio State Highway Patrol chaplain all made additional remarks.

All addressed the graduates and presented their commissions and certificates of training.

Courses completed by the 150th class included firearms, traffic and criminal laws, self-defense, human relations and crash investigation training. Cadets also drove on the performance track at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy (OPOTA) in London.

Trooper Juan R. Santiago Jr. of Lorain was selected class speaker and thanked the Academy and the families of the Cadets for being so supportive during their training.

Each of the commissioned troopers will report to their posts on Monday, May 2. The graduates’ first 60 working days will be a field-training period under the guidance of a veteran officer. The new graduates are assigned to 20 of the Patrol’s 55 posts.

Among the new graduates is Kyle J. Baxter of Van Wert, who will be assigned to the Wapakoneta post.