AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) celebrated the graduation of 138 new Texas Highway Patrol Troopers from recruit Class C-2024 during a ceremony at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin. This marks the department’s 177th graduating class.
Public Safety Commission Chairman Steven P. Mach delivered the keynote address, praising the troopers for their courage and dedication. “Texas Highway Patrol Troopers in their distinctive Texas Tan uniforms and black and white patrol cars are a beacon of strength, bravery and comfort in this state,” said Chairman Mach. He was joined by fellow Public Safety Commissioners Nelda Luce Blair and Larry B. Long, as well as DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin and other department leadership.
Colonel Martin emphasized the importance of the recruits’ character, stating, “You’ve made a promise to protect and serve. While your training has prepared you for what you may encounter on the job – remember that each of you was selected to join DPS for a specific reason.”…