The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s 99 recruit class has officially graduated as of 10am Friday morning. According to Colonel Ron Replogle (Reh pole goal) the new Troopers will start on January 5th. Of the several accepted, four will go to Troop F which serves the majority of the lake region including Troopers Allison Enderle who earned the firearms award during her training, Andrew Marbaker, Houston McDaniel and Jacob Vislay. Troop I will get 4 people including Issac Cox, Robert Crafton, Ethan Hobbs and Geoffrey Wensel. Troop A will get 3 people including Emilio Villanueva, Nicholas Perez and Holly Stevens, who is the only Trooper graduating from the Lake area out of Lincoln, MO.
Full release below:
MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
EMPHASIS: Missouri State Highway Patrol Commissions 99th Recruit Class
Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces that 31 Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers graduated from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy today, Friday, December 19, 2014. The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. in the Academy gymnasium. The 99th Recruit Class reported to the Academy on July 1, 2014. The new troopers will report for duty in their assigned troops on January 5, 2015.
Chief Jon Belmar, St. Louis County Police Department, gave the keynote address during the December 19 graduation ceremony. Governor Jay Nixon addressed the class, also. The Honorable Mary Rhodes Russell, Supreme Court of Missouri, administered the Oath of Office to the new troopers. Rev. Chase Replogle, Assembly of God, provided the invocation and benediction. The Troop F Color Guard presented and retired the colors, and Sgt. Andy A. Henry, Troop H, sang the national anthem.
Dean Gil Kennon, vice president of college affairs for Mineral Area College, was present to confer an associate’s of applied science degree to 16 of the new troopers based on their course work at the Academy.
Four class awards were presented. The recruits accumulated points toward graduation in the categories of physical fitness, firearms, and academics throughout their 25 weeks at the Academy. The person with the highest number of points in each category earned the respective award. Trooper Kenneth R. Bechaud earned the physical fitness award. Trooper Allison R. Enderle earned the firearms award. Trooper Joshua E. Hainey earned the academics award. Trooper Christopher R. Kottwitz. accepted the Superintendent’s Award, which is presented to the person with the most points overall.
Listed below are the names, hometowns, and first assignments for members of the 99th Recruit Class:
Name/Hometown/First Assignment
Kyle E. Alcorn, Lake Sherwood, MO, Troop C, Ste. Genevieve & Perry Counties
Kenneth R. Bechaud, O’Fallon, MO, Troop C, St. Charles County
Michael L. Bradley, St. Louis, MO, Troop B, Marion & Ralls Counties
Kyle R. Copeland, Centertown, MO, Troop D, Stone & Taney Counties
Jack W. Cotter, Blue Springs, MO, Troop H, Holt & Atchison Counties
Isaac A. Cox, Jackson, MO, Troop I, Phelps & Maries Counties
Robert L. Crafton, Kennett, MO, Troop I, Phelps & Maries Counties
Austin G. Darnell, Villa Ridge, MO, Troop C, South St. Louis & Jefferson Counties
Allison R. Enderle, Wentzville, MO, Troop F, Moniteau & Morgan Counties
Joshua E. Hainey, St. Joseph, MO, Troop H Harrison & Gentry Counties
Michael K. Halim, Imperial, MO, Troop C, Franklin County
Ethan T. Hobbs, Anderson, MO, Troop I, Pulaski & Maries Counties
Gregory A. Jackson Jr., St. Charles, MO, Troop C, North St. Louis County
Christopher R. Kottwitz, St. Joseph, MO, Troop B, Clark & Scotland Counties
Brian J. Magnan, Crystal City, MO, Troop C, Jefferson County
Andrew W. Marbaker, Jefferson City, MO, Troop F, Callaway County
Houston M. McDaniel, Carl Junction, MO, Troop F, Miller County
Jerrick W. Myers, Jackson, MO, Troop E, Bolinger, Cape, & Scott County
Matthew D. Obert, Lamar, MO, Troop H, Harrison & Gentry Counties
Brandon S. Pearson, Green City, MO, Chariton & Linn Counties
Jonathan W. Pengress, Jonesboro, IL, Troop C, Jefferson County
Nicholas A. Perez, Lexington, MO, Troop A, Saline County
Tyler D. Pond, West Plains, MO, Troop G, Southern Howell & Oregon Counties
Scott T. Roettger, Imperial, MO, Troop C, St. Louis & Jefferson Counties
Tyler L. Shupe, Kansas City, MO, Troop H, Holt & Atchison Counties
Holly R. Stevens, Lincoln, MO, Troop A, Bates County
Emilio J. Villanueva, Springfield, MO, Troop A, Cass County
Jacob H. Vislay, Jefferson City, MO, Troop F, Boone County
Christopher C. Wakefield, Bismarck, MO, Troop E, Mississippi, New Madrid, & Scott Counties
Geoffrey N. Wensel, Plato, MO, Troop I, Pulaski & Maries Counties
Travis N. Ziegler, Joliet, IL, Troop C, St. Charles County