On Wednesday afternoon, 49 new Washington State Patrol Troopers took the oath of office and were welcomed to service by State Patrol Chief John Batiste, along with Governor Inslee and State Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens.
The graduation ceremony was held at the State Patrol academy in Shelton, with the new troopers seated in their patrol vehicles, listening to remarks via radio.
The Trooper Cadets arrived at the Academy in March, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. There, they have been isolated from the impacts of the virus.
The State Patrol said in a media release – “We are honored by their willingness to serve in these unique times, their courage to protect both the public and roadways of our state, and their commitment to fairness and dignity for all.”
They now depart for their duty stations across Washington. It is unclear how many of them will be assigned to our area.
