This past week, 35 new troopers from the 79th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy class were issued their state police cars at the Indiana State Police Youth Education and Historical Center in Indianapolis. Probationary Trooper Benjamin Smith received his car and has begun solo patrol in the Bloomington District which covers Monroe, Morgan, Brown, Greene, Owen & Lawrence Counties.

The probationary officers recently completed a three month field training period with veteran troopers. In addition to the field training, the new officers received approximately 917 hours of structured training in law enforcement techniques when they were assigned to the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy.

That curriculum included criminal law instruction, emergency vehicle operations training, psychology, and survival Spanish. They also developed skills in criminal investigation, vehicle crash investigation, and impaired driver prevention and detection.

Probationary Trooper Benjamin Smith received his car and has begun solo patrol in the Bloomington District which covers Monroe, Morgan, Brown, Greene, Owen & Lawrence Counties.

P/Trp. Smith is a native of Mooresville, Indiana and a 2012 graduate of Mooresville High School. Smith spent six years proudly serving his country (active duty) in the Air Force and then served an additional year in the Air National Guard.

Lieutenant Paul Bucher said, "We are glad to see Probationary Trooper Benjamin Smith joining our veteran troopers on solo patrol who serve each of the communities in our district."

Probationary Trooper Smith will primarily patrol Monroe County.