Governor Ivey Honors Final Trooper Class of Her Administration, Highlights Years of Crime Crackdowns and Public Safety Gains

MONTGOMERY - Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday hosted a graduation reception honoring 44 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) trooper trainees, the final trooper class of her Administration. She also highlighted the investments and public safety measures helping Alabama law enforcement protect communities across the state.

The reception continues a tradition Governor Ivey has maintained during this second term, recognizing incoming troopers as they prepare to begin their service. Class 2026-B will graduate Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) at Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, bringing the total number of ALEA trooper trainees who have graduated during her Administration to 504 across 19 classes.

"With troopers as fine as Alabama's, criminals ought to be looking over their shoulders," said Governor Ivey. "These men and women have worked hard to earn their badges, and I am proud to see them ready to get lawbreakers off our streets and behind bars. Here in Alabama, we believe in tough-on-crime common sense, and with these new troopers joining our ranks, I have great confidence that the fight for a safer Alabama and a more secure future remains strong."

Members of Class 2026-B completed months of rigorous training to prepare for the demands of law enforcement. Training began May 18 for uncertified candidates, while additional candidates who already held law enforcement certification joined on August 24. The graduating class will serve across all seven ALEA troops statewide, with four graduates assigned to Marine Patrol and one assigned to Protective Services.

"For nearly a decade, I have had the distinct honor of serving under the leadership of Governor Kay Ivey and witnessing firsthand her unwavering dedication to the men and women of Alabama law enforcement," said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. "Since entrusting me with the responsibility of leading ALEA in 2017, Governor Ivey has remained steadfast in her commitment to strengthening our Agency, supporting our personnel and advancing public safety for all who live, work and travel throughout Alabama. The 44 ALEA Troopers graduating this week represent far more than the next generation of law enforcement officers; they are a testament to that shared commitment and are part of a lasting legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication to protecting the people of Alabama for generations to come."

Governor Ivey has made recruiting and retaining qualified law enforcement officers a central part of her public safety agenda. Starting annual pay for an ALEA trooper trainee has increased from $35,589.60 in 2017 to $57,861.60. Governor Ivey also signed Senate Bill 68, expanding State Police Tier 1 retirement benefits to eligible ALEA personnel and strengthening retirement opportunities for law enforcement.

Those investments have accompanied her sustained effort to strengthen Alabama's public safety laws. Through the Safe Alabama package and other legislation, Governor Ivey has:

• Expanded legal protections for law enforcement
• Established scholarships for law enforcement families
• Enhanced penalties for felons with firearms
• Increased penalties for attempting to elude law enforcement

Additional measures expanded Aniah's Law, strengthened supervision of high-risk juveniles, banned dangerous machine gun conversion devices and made Alabama's wiretap statute permanent.

Governor Ivey also established and supported additional funding for the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit (MACS), reinforcing efforts to combat crime in the Capital City.

"My message to anyone up to no good in Alabama is simple: We will find you, catch you and lock you up," said Governor Ivey. "Our troopers have a tough job, and they need a governor who will stand firmly behind them. I have been proud to do just that - always having their backs - and the work we have done together is helping protect our families, strengthen communities and make Alabama a safer place to call home."

That commitment extends to Alabama's roads and waterways. Governor Ivey enacted a highway safety law cracking down on illegal trucking operators and signed updated boater safety laws.

Under Governor Ivey's direction, ALEA has cracked down on illegal and unqualified commercial drivers through targeted enforcement, English-language proficiency requirements and a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since October 2025, ALEA's Motor Carier Safety Unit has assisted ICE with the detention of 624 individuals for immigration violations encountered during commercial vehicle enforcement. Troopers have also issued 1,110 English-language proficiency violations since January 1, 2025. Governor Ivey built on those efforts by signing the Highway Safety and Fairness Act, strengthening requirements for commercial drivers and marking the presentation of fraudulent foreign commercial driver licenses a criminal offense.

ALEA's work has also contributed to progress on Alabama's highways. In 2025, troopers investigated crashes resulting in 520 traffic fatalities, down from 566 in 2024 and the lowest since 2021. Alabama recorded 106 commercial motor vehicle fatalities in 2025, also the lowest annual total since 2021. In 2026, commercial vehicle fatalities are down 24 percent compared to the same period last year.

Under Governor Ivey's leadership, ALEA has modernized its decade-old driver's license system through LEADS and launched CodeRED, a high-speed notification system for missing person alerts. ALEA also became the first state police agency to certify all sworn officers through KultureCity's Sensory-Inclusive Training, helping officers better serve individuals with sensory needs.

Wednesday's graduation will add 44 new troopers to the public safety workforce Governor Ivey has worked to strengthen throughout her Administration.

"These are the final troopers I will send into service as governor, and I am proud to leave them with stronger laws, better support and a clear charge to protect the people of Alabama," added Governor Ivey.

Ensuring public safety will remain a top priority for the final months of the governor's tenure.

For your publishing and broadcasting purposes, photos from the reception can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/governorkayivey/albums/72177720336368473

Additionally, for your publishing and broadcasting purposes, b-roll from the reception can be downloaded here: https://we.tl/t-5wWNzYOfnsXg5xv8

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