New State Troopers Commissioned

On January 19, I had the honor of speaking at the Department of Public Safety's trooper graduation ceremony. The troopers are the elite law enforcement force in Texas, and 57 new members were commissioned at the ceremony. Also speaking to the class were the chairman of the Public Safety Commission and the director of the department. A trooper from Grayson County, Sergeant Brian Lillie, was a counselor for this class of troopers, and was also a part of the ceremony.

Candidates for the trooper training program are carefully screened and rigorously tested. This class began the 18-week training academy in August. Instruction covered more than 100 subjects, including counter-terrorism, traffic and criminal law, arrest and control procedures, accident reconstruction, first aid and Spanish. They also received extensive use of force, communication skills, firearms, driving, criminal interdiction, cultural diversity and physical fitness training. In the coming weeks, the troopers will move to their new duty stations. They will spend the first six months in training with a senior trooper.

Our state troopers are a vital part of our community and are dedicated to the safety of all Texans. Troopers are involved in preventing terrorism, securing our borders, stopping the shipment and sale of illegal drugs, and combating crime in this state.

For more information on the DPS state troopers or any other matter of state government, please contact my office by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by emailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us. My district office phone number is (903) 891-7297.