Thirty-two new state troopers graduated from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) academy in Selma on Thursday, but there is still a ways to go to reach the state’s target level of staffing.
CBS 42 reported that one of the new graduates is Pate Nelson, making him a fourth-generation trooper.
“My great grandfather was an Alabama state trooper, my grandfather [was] and my father is currently a state trooper,” Nelson told the television network.
Nelson’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather all reportedly reached the rank of captain during their career. Nelson’s father, Tracy, and grandfather, Doug, attended the graduation ceremony.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall spoke during the graduation ceremony.
I was honored to deliver the commencement address at the graduation exercises of ALEA Trooper Class 2019-A in Selma today. Thirty-two graduates took an oath to protect and serve our state. Welcome to the force! #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/j7sOTcnioG
— AG Steve Marshall (@AGSteveMarshall) August 15, 2019
Watch CBS 42′ report:
Even with the new graduates, ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor advised that the state is still well short of its goal of having 550 troopers. He still hopes to hire approximately 200 new troopers within the next year, per WSFA.
This comes after the Alabama legislature appropriated $5.5 million during its 2019 regular session to hire a total of 50 new state troopers.
Funding for additional troopers is also expected to be requested in the 2020 session.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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