The South Carolina Highway Patrol recently held a graduation ceremony for 38 troopers from its Highway Patrol Classes 124 and 125. Senator Thomas Alexander, President of the South Carolina Senate, addressed the graduates as the keynote speaker.
These graduating classes include 12 pre-certified officers and 26 who are new to the law enforcement profession. The addition of this graduating class brings the total number of troopers in South Carolina to 774.
“Today’s ceremony commemorates the hard work and sacrifices these men and women have made to become a state trooper,” said Robert G. Woods, IV, Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. “They have dedicated themselves not only to the training but also to a mission that seeks to ensure the safety of the people of South Carolina as they travel throughout this great state.”
Troopers are assigned to areas based on a number of considerations, which include population density, the number of calls for service, and the number of licensed drivers/registered vehicles in an area. Trooper Matthew L. Derrick will be assigned to Troop 6, Post B in Colleton County. Trooper Derrick also received the Captain Cecil Dilworth Marksmanship award for his class which is presented to the trooper who demonstrated the best marksmanship during firearms training.
