Governor Evers welcomes 37 new Wisconsin State Patrol troopers

​​​​​67th Recruit Class graduates at ceremony in La Crosse Thursday

Release date: June 30, 2022

Governor Tony Evers welcomed the newest officers to the Wisconsin State Patrol after 37 graduates received their badges at a ceremony in La Crosse on Thursday.

The graduates will join nearly 500 sworn officers assigned to State Patrol’s seven regional posts across Wisconsin.

As keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony, Gov. Evers celebrated the new officers’ commitment to service.

“Graduations have been a big part of my life as an educator. These milestones are an opportunity to think about why we are here and what we value, and where we have yet to go,” Gov. Evers said. “I have no doubt that this class of graduates will go above and beyond to serve their communities and our state, and I want to express my deep gratitude to them and to their families and instructors who helped them get here today.”

The mission of State Patrol officers is to support public safety on Wisconsin highways by enforcing traffic laws, responding to incidents, helping stranded drivers, inspecting commercial motor vehicles, working to combat illegal drugs and human trafficking, and supporting Wisconsin’s homeland and emergency response strategies.

“We will never know the number of crashes that didn’t happen because of State Patrol’s efforts, or the families who are alive and safe today because troopers were doing their jobs. But we do know motorists are safer on our roads in large part because of the vital mission of the Wisconsin State Patrol,” Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson said.

The 67th Recruit Class recently completed 26 weeks of comprehensive training at the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy, focusing on traffic and criminal laws, emergency vehicle operations, firearms proficiency, communications, crisis management and lifesaving skills.

“You’ve been through a lot in the past six months. You’ve learned a lot. Each day at the Academy – the lessons you learned and skills you acquired – ensures you now have what it takes to become a valued public servant to the great communities across our state,” State Patrol Superintendent Anthony Burrell told the graduates.

State Patrol troopers and inspectors serve in a variety of roles, including crash reconstruction experts, airplane and drone pilots, dignitary protection, K9 and motorcycle officers.

​Wisconsin State Patrol is still accepting applications for the next round of officers, who will begin training at the Academy on January 3, 2023. The application period for the 68th Recruit Class ends on July 8. Find more information online​.

The new officers of the 67th Recruit Class are listed below, along with their hometowns and assignments as new troopers. They will now receive 12 weeks of on-the-job field training in their assigned counties.

Watch the recorded graduation ceremony on Wisconsin State Patrol’s Facebook page.

Photos of the graduates will be available to download here next week: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bL7PoGumdcyR7-wZSZCkUcvgkKca5lKW

NAME HOMETOWN ASSIGNMENT
Eric AdelmeyerLomira, WIWinnebago County
Jack BarkerWarren, ILColumbia County
Giordano BartoluttiHartland, WIRacine County
Kali BratholMenomonie, WIJackson County
Corey BrembergerSlinger, WIColumbia County
Caleb BrielHillsdale, WIBarron County
Richard CallusLeicestershire, UKRacine County
Kevin CapekCornell, WIJuneau County
Davin CotterChicago, ILMonroe County
Matthew CrowlSchaumberg, ILSouth Dane County
Zachary FreibergWausau, WIJuneau County
Santosh GeringMosinee, WIMarinette County
Joseph GilltrapHemet, CASt. Croix County
Kyle HannemanStevens Point, WIMarathon County
Matthew JankowskiWithee, WIPrice County
Jon KellerStevens Point, WIMarathon County
Owen KiesRandom Lake, WIKenosha County
Joshua KingBridgetown, BarbadosMonroe County
Hayden KnoxOconto, WIJackson County
Megan KronschnabelManitowoc, WIColumbia County
Zachary LindHibbing, MNDouglas County
Andrew LyyskiWaupun, WIFond du Lac County
Eli MorhardtLena, ILRock County
Jacob MorrisRacine, WISouth Dane County
Cody NicholsonOshkosh, WISauk County
Evan PahlHustisford, WIColumbia County
Kyle PunzelJefferson, WIRock County
Bradley RitgerFall Creek, WIDunn County
Trebor RuschAppleton, WIColumbia County
David ScheelOnalaska, WIJuneau County
Jacob SchroederOswego, ILRock County
Andrew SeitzAshland, WIAshland County
Kyle SimonCross Plains, WIColumbia County
David WellingEscanaba, MIFond du Lac County
Timothy WilliamsRochester, MNJuneau County
David YaggiaCaracas, VESouth Dane County
Randall ZaisEau Claire, WISt. Croix County

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For more information, contact:

WisDOT Office of Public Affairs
(608) 266-3581, opa.exec@dot.wi.gov