Governor Kathy Hochul attended the graduation ceremony of 238 new State Troopers from the 217th session of the New York State Police Basic School. The event took place at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, bringing the total number of sworn State Police members to about 5,110.
“Our State Police represent the best of New York, offering nothing short of their full devotion each day to the safety and security of our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “Public safety is my number one priority — and on behalf of all New Yorkers, I commend these 238 men and women for their selfless commitment to service and congratulate them on this extraordinary achievement.”
Superintendent Steven G. James addressed the graduates, stating, “Today’s graduates join a proud and honorable tradition of service that spans more than a century. The men and women of the 217th Basic School have shown remarkable determination, integrity, and resilience throughout their training. As they take their oath and begin their assignments across New York, I have every confidence they will uphold the high standards of professionalism and public service that define the New York State Police.”
Several awards were presented during the ceremony:
– Trooper Haley E. Yegorov received the Academic Achievement Award for attaining an overall academic average of 97.35 percent during academy training. Yegorov holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Ashworth College and previously worked as a paralegal in New York City.
– Trooper Josue V. Garibay was awarded for firearms proficiency after achieving a perfect score during firearms training. Garibay is a graduate of American Military University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and served four years in the United States Marine Corps before becoming an Albany police officer.
– Connor T. Hamilton earned recognition for physical fitness by achieving the highest score among all members in physical agility testing. Hamilton has a bachelor’s degree in adolescence education in mathematics from SUNY Oneonta and taught mathematics prior to joining the force.
– Richard A. Lagano was chosen by his peers as student representative. He graduated from SUNY Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in business economics and worked as an assistant store manager at Lowe’s before entering law enforcement.
The National Anthem was performed by graduating Trooper Madison D. Sciera, and attendees viewed a video presentation showcasing training activities.
The new troopers are scheduled to begin field duty on October 27, 2025, where they will be evaluated over ten weeks under supervision from senior Field Training Officers.
Graduates will be assigned to various permanent troops across New York State after completing field training.
