BETHLEHEM, Pa. – 49 new troopers were welcomed to the Pennsylvania Sate Police (PSP) on Friday, including 6 that will be reporting to the Bethlehem troop.
The troopers are the 174th Cadet Class graduation at LCBC Manheim after completing approximately 27 weeks of training, according to the news release.
They are the fourth class to graduate from the PSP Academy without a college credit requirement for the position of trooper.
Officials say that the Shapiro Administration waived the college credit requirement for applicants in Aug. 2023, which resulted in a 258% increase in the number of applicants testing to become troopers.
“For nearly six months at our Academy, this elite group of dedicated women and men remained focused, motivated, disciplined, and committed to earning the rank of trooper,” said Colonel Paris. “Today, we celebrate their great achievement and look forward to them joining our PSP brothers and sisters in serving, protecting, and upholding the law across the Commonwealth.”
Frank A. Dangello, Ezmeralda M. Fernandez, Patrick J. Hidalgo, Lukas Medvecky, Lydia D. Szymanski and Ryan R. Verbonitz will all be reporting to Troop M, Bethlehem starting on Dec. 15.