Lone Star State to see 11 new Latino troopers report for duty this month

A recent class of Texas Highway Patrol troopers will report for duty on Sept. 18, including 11 new Latino officers who have been effectively deputized by the Lonestar state.

One of those troopers was Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Zachary Perez who finally realized his dream in law enforcement when he graduated last month as one of the state’s newest officers during a ceremony for Recruit Class A-2022.

The path was not an easy one he said, as he once weighed 300 pounds, but he was determined and pushed himself further than he ever has before.

“Learning how competitive the physical requirements were, I knew I had my work cut out for me. I lost over 70 pounds,” he shared. “Becoming a state trooper has strengthened me physically and mentally, and I look forward to the years to come.”

After 29 weeks of training, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 169th recruit class graduated 45 new Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, including 11 troopers of Latin descent. 

“We honor the hard work each of you have put in to get to this moment, and we celebrate alongside your friends and family members,” Steven P. Mach, chairman of the Department of Public Safety Commission, told the new troopers. “You have made a commitment to protect and serve the people of this great state. You are the first line of defense, and we thank you for your willingness to join the Texas Highway Patrol.”

Recruit Class A-2022 endured 1,016 hours of training to obtain their goals. Among the students, which ranged in age from 21 to 54, 17 were prior military, 13 were prior law enforcement, 13 were bilingual and several were 2nd and 3rd generation law enforcement.

Addressing the graduates during the ceremony, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott thanked them for their service and discussed the troopers place in history.

“Thank you for your service. Thank you for your commitment. Thank you for your bravery,” Abbott said during the ceremony. “As you all know, the Texas Department of Public Safety has a legendary place in Texas history. The fact of the matter is, at this moment in time, you play a far more pivotal role than the Texas Department of Public Safety has ever played.”

The Lone Star governor said the tasks they will be asked to do are far more “complex, multi-faceted and dangerous than ever before.” He said while most people think troopers just respond to incidents on highways, that is only a small part of their whole function.

Abbott encouraged the graduates’ families and friends to be there for their troopers now, more than ever before.

“We know that when these graduates leave here and begin their service on the streets of Texas, they need you with them more than ever before,” Abbott said. “We know that you all serve together as a team, whether you’re a loved one or a friend, they need your support because of the extraordinary dangers that they face.”

The state’s new troopers report to their duty stations Sept. 18.