Photo (back row to front row, left to right) Travis VanDrew, James Yates, Zane Baker, Cainan Trautman and Noah Phillips
Five new graduates from the Kentucky State Police Training Academy are set to bolster public safety efforts at Post 2 in Madisonville.
The five troopers are part of a group of 33 cadets who graduated from the training academy on Friday.
In a written statement, Post 2 Captain Derek Smith welcomed the five new troopers, noting that they are embarking on a rewarding career. He commended their accomplishments during the academy training and said he looks forward to working alongside them as they start their journey with the Thin Gray Line.
The graduates from Cadet Class 105 who have been assigned to Post 2 include Zane Baker from Cerulean, Noah Phillips from Greenville, Cainan Trautman from Madisonville, Travis VanDrew from Russellville, and James Yates from Marion.
According to Kentucky State Police officials, Cadet Class 105 began their journey at the Academy on November 10, 2024, embarking on 24 weeks of instruction and hands-on training necessary to become state troopers. The class completed over 1,000 hours of classroom and field study, covering a wide range of subjects such as weapons training, high-speed vehicle pursuit, criminal investigation, hostage negotiations, evidence collection, search and seizure, crash investigation, sex and hate crimes, bomb threats, and hazardous materials.
Officials reported that several members of the graduating class were honored with special recognition during the ceremony. Among them was Trooper VanDrew, who received the Valedictorian award, accompanied by a new 2024 Dodge Durango police cruiser. He was also awarded the ‘Ernie Bivins Award’, given to a cadet who, in the opinion of the KSP Academy and fellow cadets, demonstrates leadership distinction, pursues academic excellence, and excels in all aspects of the academy’s physical and vocational training.
In addition, seventeen cadets, including Troopers Trautman and Yates, earned their associate degrees in General Occupational and Technical Studies from Bluegrass Community and Technical College during their 24 weeks at the training academy.
The Kentucky State Police Cadet Class 106 begins August 10, 2025. Those interested in becoming a Trooper are encouraged to visit the Kentucky State Police website.
