Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) graduated 52 new ALEA Troopers during a closed ceremony Wednesday at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center (ACJTC).

Family and friends were unable to attend the ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trooper Class 2020-E, which began Aug. 30, is one of the largest classes in the agency’s history and the first combined class.

Twelve ALEA Trooper Trainees received their certification from the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) from June 1 to Aug. 27. Forty accelerated Trooper Trainees who were already APOSTC-certified joined Aug. 30.

“Forty of you are from 26 different (law enforcement) agencies. We want to thank you for having the confidence in us to come here and complete training.” ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said during the ceremony. “I promise you; we will not let you down and we will support you.”

The Class 2020-E features three graduates whose fathers are members of ALEA.

Trooper Jonah Holzheimer is the son of Trooper Kenneth Holzheimer. Trooper Ashton Senn is the son of Special Agent Johnny Senn of ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation. Trooper James Dean is the son of Trooper Jimmy Dean, who died in February.