Governor Hochul Announces 211th Session Graduation from State Police Basic School

Governor Kathy Hochul joined Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli in honoring 218 new New York State Troopers as they graduated today from the 211th session of the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy. The ceremony was held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Today’s graduation increases the State Police ranks to 4,742 sworn members.

“Serving as a New York State Police Trooper has only grown more complex, and their commitment to protecting the people of our state is an inspiration to us all,” Governor Hochul said. “These 218 men and women are dedicating themselves to public service, and as Governor, I will continue to do everything I can to protect them in the same way they protect us. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I congratulate the graduates and thank them for their hard work and perseverance.”

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, “Today’s graduation is the culmination of six months of difficult classwork, physical training, and sacrifice, and we now welcome our newest members to one of the most prestigious and well-respected law enforcement agencies in the nation. I am confident they are equipped to carry out our mission to serve our communities with the same professionalism and pride the State Police have exhibited for the past 105 years.”

The Governor also announced that more than 8,000 guns have been seized statewide since January – the highest number of illegal guns confiscated for this period in the last two decades – and highlighted the work of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns.

The Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns is a multi-state consortium convened to share intelligence, tools, tactics, and strategies to combat gun violence. The Task Force has fostered significant cooperation and collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont since its creation earlier this year. Task Force members have convened several times this year to discuss data, intelligence, strategies and other tactics critical to their ongoing efforts to address the increase in gun violence that has occurred in New York and the nation since early 2020.

In addition to honoring all graduates from the 211th Session of Basic School, Acting Superintendent Nigrelli presented the following awards:

Academic Achievement Award

As a special incentive for all students attending the State Police Academy Basic School, the Superintendent sponsors the awarding of a firearm for the attainment of the highest level of academic performance during Academy training.

The winner of the “Academic Achievement Award” is Trooper Joshua A. Torchia, a 27-year-old resident of Hudson, New York. He is a graduate of Siena College with a Master of Science in Accounting. Prior to joining the New York State Police as a Trooper, he worked as a Sheriff’s Deputy with the Columbia County Sheriff’s office for 3 years. Throughout the Academy training program, he achieved an outstanding overall academic average of 97.25 percent. He will be assigned to Troop K.

Firearms Proficiency Award

The New York State Trooper Foundation has sponsored the awarding of a firearm for the attainment of the highest level of performance in all phases of firearms training.

The winner of the Superintendent’s Firearms Proficiency Award is Trooper Andrew J. Halloran age 28, of Valley Falls, New York. He is a graduate of University at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he was a security supervisor. During firearms training, he fired an average score of 250 out of a possible 250. He will be assigned to Troop K.

Investigator Joseph T. Aversa Physical Fitness Award

The New York State Police Investigators Association has sponsored the awarding of a firearm for the attainment of the highest degree of physical fitness during the Physical Training Program at the Academy. This award will be presented in memory of deceased Investigator Joseph Aversa. Investigator Aversa made the ultimate sacrifice in New York City on March 5, 1990, during a narcotics investigation while serving as a member of the Joint Drug Enforcement Task Force. Investigator Aversa was a six-year State Police veteran who believed that physical conditioning was an integral part of being a Trooper.

The recipient of this award is Trooper Austin R. Bannister, who lives in Seneca Falls, New York.  He is a graduate of the Community College of The Air Force with an Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice.  Prior to joining the State Police, he was a Security Force member in the United States Air Force.  During the physical agility testing, he achieved the highest score of all 218 Members of the 211th Session, a tribute to his superb physical conditioning.  He will be assigned to Troop F.

Student Representative

The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association has sponsored the awarding of a firearm to the member of the class who is selected by his or her peers to represent them during these exercises. The PBA presents the award in memory of Trooper John J. McKenna IV, who was killed in action in 2006 while serving his country as a Marine in Iraq.

The recipient of this award is Trooper Mike S. Nyantakyi, who resides in Brentwood, New York. He is a graduate of Suffolk County Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he was a Police Officer with the New York City Police Department for 3 years and for the past seven years he has served in the United States Army Reserves as a Military Police Officer. He will be assigned to Troop C.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Empire Plaza Convention Center in Albany. The National Anthem was performed by Trooper Katrina Garrett, a member of the graduating class. The ceremony included a video presentation of the training received by all members of the 211th Basic School Session.

The new Troopers will report for field duty on October 28, 2022. For the following 10 weeks, the new Troopers will be evaluated under a field-training program supervised by senior Field Training Officers.

Below is a list of Field Training assignments where graduates will begin their careers. Included are the hometowns of the graduates.