On February 6th, 2018, thirty-two probationary troopers from the 77th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy class were issued their state police cars at the Indiana State Police Youth and Education and Historical Center in Indianapolis. Five of the officers are assigned to the Indiana State Police Lowell Post and start solo patrol in the district which covers Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties. The probationary officers recently completed a three month field training period with veteran troopers. They will serve a one year probationary period before attaining permanent status as a trooper.
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. The curriculum included criminal law instruction, emergency vehicle operations training, psychology, traffic law, crash investigations, self-defense, first responder, and other general law enforcement related areas.
The new Lowell troopers now on solo patrol are:
- Brayan Elias-Espinoza, 27 originally from Arizona where he graduated from Buena High School in Sierra Vista, AZ. He attended Calumet College where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He resides in Lake County
- Zach Huston, 24 from Portage, Indiana. He graduated from Portage High School. He attends Indiana University Northwest studying Criminal Justice. He previously worked at the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso. He and his family reside in Porter County.
- Connor Davidson, 24 of Hammond, Indiana. He graduated from Morton High School. He studied Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He resides in Lake County.
- Nicholas Price, 24 is originally from Plainfield, Indiana. He graduated from Plainfield High School. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Criminal Justice. He resides in Lake County.
- Timothy Borsa, 29 was originally from Marshall County in Indiana. He graduated from Triton Junior/Senior High School in Bourbon, Indiana. He attended Vincennes University in Evansville studying Conservation. He resides in Porter County.
For more information on becoming an Indiana State Police trooper go to www.in.gov/isp and click on the link “career opportunities.”