CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 68th Cadet Class of the West Virginia State Police was trained during a pandemic, unlike any other class before it.
The 32 cadets were recognized during graduation ceremonies Friday at the state Culture Center. The class includes one woman.
State Police Superintendent, Col. Jan Cahill reminded the class it wasn’t long into its training when the pandemic hit.
“We had to send you home. We scrambled and we came up with a unique video conferencing form of training which went surprisingly well. You did that for a few months but at the end of the day we knew you had to be back at the academy,” Cahill said.
The troopers in training were brought back to Institute and they stayed there.
“It was like a true boot camp. You didn’t go home on Fridays,” Cahill said.
The 68th Class is also unique because the cadets did five weeks of rotation training.
“You have been every from Martinsburg to Morgantown, Parkersburg, Huntington, Charleston, Logan, Beckley, Princeton and I’ve probably forgotten a few places,” Cahill said, adding the tour training was well-received.
Cahill told the troopers to treat every call the same no matter how big or how small.
“Respond to each one of those calls like it’s the most important call of your life,” Cahill said.
Gov. Jim Justice also addressed the cadets. He said they’ve faced things no other cadets have faced and will likely face new challenges.
“You right now have gone through something in your training that is surely extraordinary and I’m sure that you’re ready to go and you’re also ready to go at the most turbulent time possible,” according to Justice.
The troopers will begin their new assignments Monday at the attachments across the state. Cahill said Friday the state police is currently testing for another class that will begin training in January. The fourth class since Justice took office in 2017.