SELMA, Ala. – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) welcomed 32 new members to its family Thursday, Aug. 15, during Trooper Class 2019-A’s graduation at the agency’s training facility in Selma.
Prior to administering the oath of office, Alabama’s Secretary of Law Enforcement Hal Taylor addressed the new Troopers and officially welcomed them into the ALEA family, adding they each earned it during the 10-week training, an accelerated class for individuals who already were certified with the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOST).
“It is an exciting time for us at ALEA. Our Trooper graduations are becoming a regular occurrence thanks to Governor Kay Ivey and the Legislature’s continued support and funding,” Taylor said.
During FY2020, which begins Oct. 1, the agency will receive $5.5 million more to hire and equip 50 additional Troopers. The agency received a General Fund appropriation of $3.3 million in FY2018 to hire and equip 30 Troopers and it received $3.2 million for FY2019 to hire another 30 Troopers.
Special guest speaker Alabama Attorney Gen. Steve Marshall said he was honored to be part of the commencement at ALEA’s Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center in Selma. He said it was important to celebrate not only the graduates’ achievements thus far, but what they will accomplish as they embark on this new adventure as ALEA Troopers. They are a select group of men and women who are called to public safety, who are willing to risk their own personal safety and who are joining a proud organization.
Trooper Class 2019-B, a 24-week academy for individuals who are not APOST-certified, is currently in session and set to graduate in the fall. A third class, Trooper Class 2019-C, is set to begin Sunday, Oct. 6.
Troopers of Class 2019-A have been assigned to ALEA’s Highway Patrol posts across the state. Three will go to Troop A (Mobile area), six to Troop B (Dothan area), three to Troop C (Tuscaloosa-Selma), three to Troop D (Montgomery-Opelika), four to Troop E (Sheffield-Hamilton), 10 to Troop F (Decatur-Huntsville) and three to Troop G (Birmingham-Jacksonville).
For information on becoming an ALEA Trooper or joining the agency as civilian support, visit www.alea.gov/about-alea/employment-information, which includes a short video on what the multifaceted agency has to offer, as well as information on the application process.
