Virginia State Police graduates 139th generation of new State Troopers
Contributed by VSP Sarah Elizabeth Stewart will serve as State Trooper in Campbell County.

On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, the Commonwealth graduated its 139th generation of Virginia State Troopers. The 31 new state troopers were presented their diplomas during commencement exercises at the State Police Training Academy in Chesterfield County.

“We are extremely proud of these graduates as they begin their career of public safety service with the Virginia State Police,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “For 91 years, the Virginia State Police has dedicated itself to serving and protecting all those living, working and travel- ing through the Commonwealth

of Virginia. We welcome these new state troopers and are confident in their ability to fulfill the high standards set forth by our mission and values.”

The new troopers have received more than 1,300 hours of class- room and field instruction in more than 100 different subjects, including de-escalation techniques, strategies to assist people in mental health crisis, ethics and leadership, fair and impartial policing, constitutional law, emergency medical trauma care, and public and community relations. The members of the 139th Basic Session began their 28 weeks of academic, physical and practical training at the Academy Feb. 27, 2023.

The graduates of the 139th Basic Session are from every corner of

the Commonwealth, as well as Arkansas, Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Saipan.

Upon graduation, the new troopers will report to their individual duty assignments across Virginia the week of Sept. 18, 2023. For their final phase of training, each trooper will spend an additional six weeks paired up with a Field Training Officer learning his or her new patrol area.

Sarah Elizabeth Stewart, Eustis, Fl, has been assigned to Campbell County.

Virginia State Police is currently hiring for trooper positions in future Academy classes. For more information, visit vatrooper.com.

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