As Gov. Kay Ivey heads into her final months in office, 44 new Alabama state troopers are preparing to begin their service as the final trooper class of her administration.
Ivey recognized the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency trainees at a reception Tuesday ahead of their graduation on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre.
Class 2026-B brings the total number of trooper trainees graduating during Ivey’s administration to 504 across 19 classes.
“These are the final troopers I will send into service as governor, and I am proud to leave them with stronger laws, better support and a clear charge to protect the people of Alabama,” Ivey said.
The graduates will serve across all seven ALEA troops statewide, with four assigned to Marine Patrol and one to Protective Services. Training began May 18 for uncertified candidates. Those who already held law enforcement certification joined Aug. 24.
“With troopers as fine as Alabama’s, criminals ought to be looking over their shoulders,” Ivey said.
“These men and women have worked hard to earn their badges, and I am proud to see them ready to get lawbreakers off our streets and behind bars.
“Here in Alabama, we believe in tough-on-crime common sense, and with these new troopers joining our ranks, I have great confidence that the fight for a safer Alabama and a more secure future remains strong.”
Ivey has hosted receptions for incoming troopers throughout her second term. This week’s event also allowed her administration to highlight changes in trooper pay, retirement benefits and public safety laws.
Starting annual pay for an ALEA trooper trainee has increased from $35,589.60 in 2017 to $57,861.60. Ivey also signed Senate Bill 68, expanding State Police Tier 1 retirement benefits to eligible ALEA personnel.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor, who has led the agency since 2017, said the graduating class reflects that investment in law enforcement.
“For nearly a decade, I have had the distinct honor of serving under the leadership of Governor Kay Ivey and witnessing firsthand her unwavering dedication to the men and women of Alabama law enforcement,” Taylor said.
He added, “Since entrusting me with responsibility of leading ALEA in 2017, Governor Ivey has remained steadfast in her commitment to strengthening our Agency, supporting our personnel and advancing public safety for all who live, work and travel throughout Alabama. The 44 ALEA Troopers graduating this week represent far more than the next generation of law enforcement officers; they are a testament to that shared commitment and are part of a lasting legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication to protecting the people of Alabama for generations to come.”
Through the Safe Alabama package and other legislation, Ivey signed measures expanding legal protections for officers, creating scholarships for law enforcement families and increasing penalties for felons possessing firearms and people attempting to elude law enforcement.
Other measures expanded Aniah’s Law, strengthened supervision of high-risk juveniles, banned machine gun conversion devices and made Alabama’s wiretap statute permanent.
Ivey also established the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit and supported additional funding for its work in Montgomery.
“My message to anyone up to no good in Alabama is simple: We will find you, catch you and lock you up,” Ivey said. “Our troopers have a tough job, and they need a governor who will stand firmly behind them. I have been proud to do just that – always having their backs – and the work we have done together is helping protect our families, strengthen communities and make Alabama a safer place to call home.”
The governor’s office also shared highway safety figures. Troopers investigated crashes resulting in 520 traffic deaths in 2025, down from 566 in 2024 and the lowest figure since 2021. Those figures cover crashes investigated by troopers, rather than all traffic deaths statewide.
Alabama recorded 106 commercial motor vehicle fatalities in 2025, also the lowest annual total since 2021. ALEA reported commercial vehicle fatalities were down 24% in 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Commercial vehicle enforcement has included English-language proficiency requirements and a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Since October 2025, ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit has assisted ICE with the detention of 624 people for immigration violations encountered during commercial vehicle enforcement, the governor’s office said. Troopers have also issued 1,110 English-language proficiency violations since Jan. 1, 2025.
Ivey signed the Highway Safety and Fairness Act, which strengthened commercial driver requirements and made presenting fraudulent foreign commercial driver licenses a criminal offense. She also signed updated boater safety laws.
Other changes at ALEA include a modernized driver’s license system through LEADS and the launch of CodeRED for missing person alerts.
The governor’s office said ALEA also became the first state police agency to certify all sworn officers through KultureCity’s Sensory-Inclusive Training, which helps officers serve people with sensory needs.
The 44 new troopers will begin their service as Ivey prepares to bring her time as governor to a close.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
