NEGAUNEE TWP, MICH. One of Michigan’s newest troopers will soon report to work at the Negaunee State Police Post. The 134th Trooper Recruit School graduation is this afternoon at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI. Trooper Jared Wells of Gwinn will be reporting to Negaunee in the next few days to begin work as the post’s newest trooper.
The 134th Trooper Recruit School began on Jan. 14, 2018, when 152 prospective troopers reported to the MSP Training Academy in Lansing. For the past 26 weeks, recruits received training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing and precision driving.
Prior to entering Trooper Recruit School, Trooper Wells served as a Motor Carrier Officer at the Negaunee Post where he conducted road patrol activities focused on commercial vehicle enforcement.
Michigan’s newest troopers will soon report to work at Michigan State Police (MSP) posts across the state after graduating from the 134th Trooper Recruit School this afternoon. Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP, administered the Oath of Office during the ceremony at the Lansing Center.
“These men and women have chosen a noble and rewarding career of public service,” said graduation keynote speaker, Governor Rick Snyder. “I appreciate their dedication to serving the residents of our great state, and wish all of them safety on the job each day.”
In her address to the graduates, MSP Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue said, “The desire of our newest members to want to influence positive change in their communities says a lot about the caliber of people joining our ranks today. In all things you do, do what’s right, do your best, and treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Tpr. David Brelinski III was elected Class Orator by his fellow recruits and spoke on behalf of the graduating class at today’s ceremony. He also received the Team Building Award. Other award recipients included Tpr. Jared Carlson who received the Academic Achievement Award, Tpr. Christopher Kustra who received the Marksmanship Award and Tpr. Joshua Ashlock who received the Outstanding Performance Award.
In order to be selected to attend the academy, all applicants had to pass a stringent selection process that included a physical fitness test, background investigation and hiring interview.
As part of the department’s commitment to community outreach and service, the recruits volunteered at Angel House and the Lansing Rescue Mission during their recruit training.
The MSP is actively recruiting for a trooper recruit school anticipated to begin in September; interested candidates should visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs for more information on how to apply.
Including these new troopers, there are 1,269 troopers assigned statewide.
The list below details the names, post assignment and hometown of each graduate.
First District | Post Assignment | Hometown |
Bryan Bell | Lansing | Wolverine Lake |
Calvin Harshman | Lansing | Lansing |
Rasey Jupin | Lansing | Holt |
Connor Piepkow | Lansing | Jackson |
Brian Wiles | Lansing | Lyons |
Brady Ahola | Brighton | Otisville |
Alexander Bur | Brighton | Howell |
Zachary Dorr | Brighton | Alpena |
Patrick Leigh | Brighton | Allen Park |
Kirk Smith | Brighton | Pinckney |
Derek Staelgraeve | Brighton | Romeo |
Stephen Beard | Jackson | Manitou Beach |
Matthew Markey | Jackson | Farmington Hills |
Wyatt Peters | Jackson | Eaton Rapids |
Nicholas Reaume | Jackson | LaSalle |
Evan Ashley | Monroe | Wyandotte |
Andrew Dayfield | Monroe | Brownstown |
Austin Howard | Monroe | Ypsilanti |
Dane Smith | Monroe | Manchester |
Second District | Post Assignment | Hometown |
Frank Bayly | Metro North | Algonac |
Sergio Corona | Metro North | White Lake |
Corinthian Gray | Metro North | Pontiac |
Troy Hinds | Metro North | St. Clair Shores |
Adam Kusch | Metro North | Fraser |
Joseph Osborn | Metro North | San Diego, CA |
D’Von Snead | Metro North | Detroit |
Bea’trice Terrell | Metro North | Detroit |
Alexis Brown | Metro South | Southfield |
Kendall Hooper | Metro South | Oxford |
Marvin Raap | Metro South | Walker |
Third District | Post Assignment | Hometown |
Taylor Croley | Tri-City | Ishpeming |
Travis House | Tri-City | Gaylord |
Chance Kehr | Tri-City | Beaverton |
Patrick Roy | Tri-City | Kaleva |
Bram Schroeder | Tri-City | Boyne City |
Timothy Atkinson | West Branch | Lachine |
Christian Hersch | West Branch | Chesaning |
Christopher Kustra | West Branch | Rhodes |
Ross McAvoy | West Branch | Fenton |
Steven Ehrke | Caro | Grand Blanc |
Michael Jarosiewicz | Caro | Gladwin |
Caleb Pratt | Caro | Flint |
Anthony Dent | Lapeer | Burton |
Jared McClure | Lapeer | China Twp. |
Brandon Ross | Lapeer | Novi |
Dakota Card | Flint | Flint |
Brandon Duong | Flint | Fairview Park, OH |
Christopher Kane | Flint | Phoenix, AZ |
Steven Littleton | Flint | Allen Park |
Casey McLaughlin-Smith | Flint | Fenton |
Merik Whipple | Flint | Saginaw |
Fifth District | Post Assignment | Hometown |
Mark Poyhonen | Paw Paw | Pinckney |
David Brelinski III | Wayland | Flint |
William Smalldon | Wayland | St. Johns |
Joshua Ashlock | Niles | Rochester Hills |
Macon Derleth | Niles | Grove City, OH |
Corey Kilmartin | Niles | Caledonia |
James Lund | Niles | Roselle, IL |
Robert Mason | Niles | Lansing |
Jared Carlson | Marshall | Apple Valley, MN |
Eric Iden | Marshall | Kinde |
Ryan Newhouse | Marshall | Kalamazoo |
Abby Sassano | Marshall | Stevensville |
Charles Scruggs | Marshall | St. Johns |
Sixth District | Post Assignment | Hometown |
Luke Greydanus | Rockford | Lansing |
Christopher Hoolsema | Rockford | Grand Rapids |
Ellis Rogers | Rockford | Traverse City |
Jeffrey Turnquist | Rockford | Traverse City |
James Twist | Rockford | Ada |
Michael Cuevas | Hart | Manchester |
Margaret Gazaryants | Hart | Walled Lake |
Erin McGarry | Hart | Newaygo |
Stephen Strom | Hart | Gladstone |
Dillon Stuart | Hart | Dansville |
Thomas Barnes | Mt. Pleasant | Portland |
Kendon Berg | Mt. Pleasant | Freeland |
Isaac Kwiatkowski | Mt. Pleasant | Pontiac |
Elizabeth Morgan | Mt. Pleasant | Gladwin |
Robert Dow II | Lakeview | Grand Rapids |
Dustin Garwood | Lakeview | Grand Haven |
Colin Gensterblum | Lakeview | Portland |
Spencer Goebel | Lakeview | Belmont |
Alec Stewart | Lakeview | Monroe |
Seventh District | Post Assignment | Hometown |
Tyler Baker | Cadillac | Cedar Springs |
John LeMire III | Cadillac | Escanaba |
Spencer Proefrock | Cadillac | Grand Haven |
Sawyer Seger | Cadillac | Manton |
Michael Walleman | Cadillac | St. Clair Shores |
David Duncan | Houghton Lake | Houghton Lake |
Gary Fleming Jr. | Houghton Lake | Allen Park |
Michael Fox | Houghton Lake | Otisville |
Dillon Golightly | Houghton Lake | Jackson |
Christopher Benzing | Gaylord | Petoskey |
Joshua Burleson | Gaylord | Eastpointe |
Edward Schwager | Gaylord | Michigan City, IN |
Norman Berry Jr. | Alpena | Fairview |
Kevin Pagels | Alpena | Harrisville |
Jordan Stone | Alpena | Tustin |
Eighth District | Post Assignment | Hometown |
Jared Wells | Negaunee | Gwinn |
Rachel Olesen | Sault Ste. Marie | Traverse City |
Hunter Plesscher | St. Ignace | Sault Ste. Marie |
Weston Williams | St. Ignace | Saginaw |
Roger Bahrman | Gladstone | Skandia |
Collin Hinman | Gladstone | Menominee |
Cole Tardiff | Iron Mountain | Gladstone |
James Rohrer | Wakefield | West Branch |
Nicholas Miller | Calumet | Gwinn |
