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Augusta County native graduates Virginia State Police Academy

Chris Graham

Jones HOn Monday (June 9, 2014), 44 new Virginia State Police troopers will begin their career on patrol in counties and along interstates across the Commonwealth. On Friday (June 6, 2014), the members of the 121st Basic Session graduates from the Virginia State Police Academy in Richmond.

The 44 graduates began their rigorous 37-week training session in December 2013. During that time, the new troopers received instruction in more than 100 different subjects spanning hundreds of hours. Academy training included such areas as crime scene investigation, survival Spanish, judicial procedures, self defense, cultural diversity and firearms.

The graduates’ final phase of training begins Monday when the new troopers report to their respective duty assignments. Each trooper will spend a minimum of six weeks with a field training officer learning his or her new patrol area and day-to-day duties.

Among the 44 new graduates is Augusta County resident, Trooper Hockaday W. Jones. Prior to joining the state police, Jones, 31, of Swoope, served two years with the Waynesboro Police Department as a Reserve Officer. Jones reports Monday to Shenandoah County for his first patrol assignment as trooper.

As the need for highly-skilled and capable law enforcement officers increases, the Department continues to seek qualified applicants for the trooper and commercial vehicle enforcement officer positions. All interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Virginia State Police Recruitment Office visit the Department’s website www.vsp.virginia.gov.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].