Upstate Men Graduate Highway Patrol Training

Men from Taylors and Greenville were among three dozen graduating officers who officially joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol last week. 

James Bumgarner of Taylors, Jake Drake of Greenville and Matthew Adam O'Donnell of Greenville all graduated. Bumgarner will be patrolling Greenville County, Drake will be patrolling Anderson County and O'Donnell will be patrolling Spartanburg County. All counties are part of the South Carolina Highway Patrol's Troop 3. 

The South Carolina Highway Patrol held graduation ceremonies for 36 troopers from Highway Patrol Basic Class 90 on Dec. 16. Gov. Nikki Haley spoke to the graduates. Basic 90 is the second class to graduate this year, as the first one graduated in May. The new class will bring the total number of troopers in South Carolina to 807. 

The troopers have been trained by the Highway Patrol and Criminal Justice Academy over the past 19 weeks in all areas of law enforcement including DUI detection, traffic laws, collision investigation and the use of firearms. The new troopers began work in their assigned posts on Dec. 19

Gov. Nikki Haley told the troopers that she would take care of them as they went about the dangerous and difficult task of keeping South Carolinians safe. She encouraged their families to stand behind the troopers so they could effectively do their jobs and said that as a wife of someone in the military, she understood the toll it takes to have your loved one miss important family events.  

“You represent the State of South Carolina and with that comes the burden of responsibility,” Haley told graduates. “But just know, I have your back and will always have your back. I will take care of you.”

“You will have many opportunities each day to help someone. Just make sure those are positive encounters. You now live in a glass house," SCDPS Director Leroy Smith said. Everyone knows you. All of your actions must be above reproach.”

“I want to remind you that you are now a Highway Patrol trooper,” said Interim SCHP Commander Lt. Col. Mike Oliver. “Being a law enforcement officer isn’t just about what you do in uniform. It is about adopting a lifestyle of service and integrity.”