238 NYS Troopers Graduate From Academy

In addition to honoring all graduates from the 217th Session of Basic School, Superintendent James 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 recipient of the Academic Achievement Award is Trooper Haley E. Yegorov, age 24 who resides in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of Ashworth College with an associate degree in criminal justice. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he was a Paralegal working at a law firm in New York City. Throughout the Academy training program, he achieved an outstanding overall academic average of 97.35 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 recipient of the Superintendent’s Firearms Proficiency Award is Trooper Josue V. Garibay, age 25 who resides in Albany, New York. He is a graduate of American Military University where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he served four years in the United States Marine Corps, and he was a police officer with the city of Albany. During firearms training, he achieved an average score of 250 out of a possible 250. He will be assigned to Troop G.

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 the Investigator Joseph T. Aversa Physical Fitness Award is Connor T. Hamilton, age 24 who resides in Rocky Point, New York. He is a graduate of SUNY Oneonta with a bachelor’s degree in adolescence education in mathematics. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he taught mathematics in Port Jefferson Station, NY. During the physical agility testing, he achieved the highest score of all 238 Members of the 217th Session, a tribute to his superb physical conditioning. He will be assigned to Troop C.

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 Richard A. Lagano, age 30 who resides in Watertown, New York. He is a graduate of SUNY Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in business economics. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he was an assistant store manager at Lowe’s in Oswego, NY. He will be assigned to Troop D.

For 10 weeks, the new Troopers will be evaluated under a field-training program supervised by senior Field Training Officers.

Below is a list of Permanent Troop assignments where graduates will begin their careers after completing their field training. Included are the hometowns of the graduates: