Pennsylvania State Police Graduate 79 New Troopers

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan on Friday congratulated the 79 men and women joining the ranks of the Pennsylvania State Police following their graduation from the State Police Academy in Hershey.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman and Noonan spoke at the ceremony, held Friday morning at Central Dauphin High School.

Cadet Chadwick K. Allen, Warren County, spoke on behalf of the cadet class.

Cadet Keith A. Johnson, Venango County, was named the outstanding cadet by his classmates and instructors, receiving the American Legion Award. Johnson also won the Daniel F. Dunn High Scholastic Award.

Also receiving awards were:

• Cadet Nicholas A. Kopp, Centre County – Charles B. Gesford High Pistol Award;
• Cadet Kent A. Ramirez, Dauphin County – John K. Schafer Memorial Physical Fitness Award.
• Cadet Charles D. Smolleck, Westmoreland County – Col. Paul J. Chylak Memorial Driver Proficiency Award

Major Adam M. Kisthardt, director of the State Police Bureau of Training and Education, supervised the training of the class, which was the 136^th class to graduate from the State Police Academy in Hershey since it opened in 1960.

The graduates, who have completed 25 weeks of intensive physical and classroom training, have been assigned to stations within nine troop areas across the state.

For more information about the State Police, visit www.psp.state.pa.us.  

Media Contacts:
Maria A. Finn or Tpr. Adam Reed; 717-783-5556

Editor's Note:  A list of graduates and their hometowns, arranged by the location of their troop assignment, follows:

Troop B, Washington

Lucas T. Borkowski of Washington, Washington County

Thomas D. Carter of Glenshaw, Allegheny County

Troop C, Punxsutawney

Christopher R. Cole of Butler, Butler County

Elliot F. Faith of Penn Run, Indiana County

Joshua Janosko of Munhall, Allegheny County

Tyler J. Lauer of Lucinda, Clarion County

Dylan J. Toy of Indiana, Indiana County

Troop E, Erie

Chadwick K. Allen of Pittsfield, Warren County

Brendon C. Burns of Conneaut Lake, Crawford County

Matthew P. Burns of Erie, Erie County

Keith A. Johnson of Oil City, Venango County

Troop H, Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Donald R. Ament Jr. of Acme, Westmoreland County

Christopher J. Balcik of Monroeville, Allegheny County

Cameron C. Beck of York, York County

Nicholas D. Bierzonski of Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Spencer L. Crouse of Butler, Butler County

Michael G. Ehgartner of Huntingdon, Huntingdon County

Joseph R. Eynon Jr. of Canonsburg, Washington County

Mark A Fisher of Altoona, Blair County

Corey J. Folino of Trafford, Westmoreland County

Megan E. Frazer of Chambersburg, Franklin County

Andrew C. Hoover of Northern Cambria, Cambria County

Ryan P. Ivancik of Butler, Butler County

Nicholas A. Kopp of State College, Centre County

Jessica L. Kratzer of Liverpool, Perry County

Joseph D. Mesley of Meadville, Crawford County

Michael S. Quinn of McKees Rocks, Westmoreland County

Richard K. Rachkowski of Harding, Luzerne County

Kent A. Ramirez of Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Sarah B. Rhinehart of Lewis Run, McKean County

Ethan T. Rowe of Fairmount City, Clarion County

Andrew T. Shaffron of Everett, Bedford County

William J. Sheakley of New Berlin, Union County

Charles D. Smolleck of Ligonier, Westmoreland County

Jesse R. Snyder of Selinsgrove, Snyder County

Craig L. Strait of Harrisonville, Fulton County

Severin A. Thierwechter of Lewistown, Mifflin County

Wesley Wilson of Connellsville, Fayette County

David E. Wineland of Greensburg, Westmoreland County

Troop J, Lancaster

Joseph W. Carlson of Beaver Meadows, Carbon County

William M. Everett of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County

Joseph M. Guza of Elizabethtown, Lancaster County

Ryan R. Jaxheimer of Palmyra, Lebanon County

Kendra R. Kaley of Lebanon, Lebanon County

Jeffrey F. Kistle Jr. of Milford, Pike County

Andrew M. Knapp of Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Nicholas M. Mantione of Plains, Luzerne County

Deanna M. Miletta of Honesdale, Wayne County

Teodoro Popolizio of Royersford, Montgomery County

Timothy J. Pray of Bethlehem, Lehigh County

Jordan T. Seiler of Pottsville, Schuylkill County

Matthew R. Truscott of Myerstown, Lebanon County

Troop K, Philadelphia

Seth W. Brown of Saylorsburg, Monroe County

John A. Eissler of Conshohocken, Montgomery County

Steven G. Hamilton of Tunkhannock, Wyoming County

Kevin P. Kassel of Glenside, Montgomery County

Karl P. Kulpak of Allentown, Lehigh County

Michael J. Laurendeau of Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey

De'Jon M. Lewis of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County

Thomas R. Nessler Jr. of Bensalem, Bucks County

Charles H. Phillips Jr. of Boothwyn, Delaware County

Christopher Poulsen of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County

Jordan L. Sonka of Allentown, Lehigh County

Vincent D. Taraborelli of Devon, Chester County

Daniel J. Woody Jr. of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County

Troop M, Bethlehem

Kyle M. Berardinucci of Easton, Northampton County

Matthew D. Brown of Dublin, Bucks County

Timothy J. McManus III of Mountain Top, Luzerne County

Matthew A. Tonitis of Auburn, Schuylkill County

Troop N, Hazleton, Luzerne County

Priscilla R. Ciancanelli of Milford, Pike County

Christopher M. Ervin of Wapwallopen, Luzerne County

Salvatore M. Gattuso Jr. of Hawley, Pike County

Matthew R. Jones of Scranton, Lackawanna County

Troop P, Wyoming

Tyler R. Brackman of Pottsville, Schuylkill County

Christopher A. Schelling of Hawley, Wayne County

Peter T. Smith of Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County

Christopher R. Stecik of Duryea, Luzerne County

Steve D. Steransky Jr. of Exeter, Luzerne County

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police