By By LYDIA GRIMES – Features writer
Escambia County will benefit from the new crop of state troopers across Alabama.
Thirty-seven new Alabama state troopers were sworn into service Thursday, June 22, during graduation ceremonies in Montgomery. Department of Public Safety Director Col. W.M. Coppage administered the oath of office to commission the new troopers.
According to Joe Piggott, information officer with the Alabama State Troopers, there were originally 64 in the class.
Escambia County is a part of the Evergreen office in the Mobile district and Mobile will be getting some new officers.
Coppage commended Alabama's newest troopers for their achievement and welcomed them to the ranks of the Highway Patrol. &#8220You now join an elite group within the law enforcement community – the Alabama State Troopers. You've demonstrated determination and endurance in completing a demanding training regimen. I encourage you to bring that same commitment and professionalism to your duties in the patrol division and throughout your careers as Alabama troopers. I wish you much success.”
Coppage said the addition of these newest troopers to the Highway Patrol would be valuable to Public Safety's traffic enforcement efforts. He thanked Gov. Bob Riley for his commitment to hiring additional troopers and said another class of troopers is currently in training at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center. 
Recruiting information is available on Public Safety's Web site, www.dps.state.al.us, and at most Highway Patrol and Driver License offices, according to Coppage.