AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officially has a new class of state troopers.
On Friday, 138 new recruits took their oath at Great Hills Baptist Church in northwest Austin, marking the end of a rigorous 30-week training process in the 177th DPS graduation ceremony.
Over 2,100 applied for the class, with only 179 being admitted to offered a spot in Class C-2024 which began on Aug. 24. Just 155 started the class, with the 138 graduates being the only ones that finished.
“We have all literally signed our names in confidence that each man and woman here is ready for the next phase in their journey,” Assistant Chief for the Texas DPS Training Operations Division Derek Prestridge said. “Therefore, on behalf of the Training Operations Division and with immense pride, we congratulate Class-C 2024 for completing the hardest and most challenging academy to date.”
Leaders with DPS said the new crop of graduates will help strengthen the state’s law enforcement presence, as the new troopers get set to begin working around Texas.
Some statistics of the class include:
- 114 males and 24 females
- Ages ranging from 21 to 54
- 45 military veterans
- 34 recruits with prior law enforcement experience
- 76 who are bilingual or multilingual