Seven newly graduated Pennsylvania State Police troopers will report to Troop L Reading next week following the graduation of the agency’s 176th Cadet Class.
The seven troopers assigned to Troop L are Tyler Elsdon, Eliezer A. Hernandez, Brandon W. Knapp, Joseph L. Kuria, Keeshawn O. McNeill, Luke T. Myers and Nicklaus L. Payne. They are scheduled to report to the troop on Monday, Aug. 31.
They are among 47 new troopers who graduated during a recent ceremony at LCBC Manheim after completing approximately 27 weeks of training at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.
“For nearly six months, this dedicated group of women and men demonstrated remarkable strength, leadership, courage, discipline, resilience, and commitment to complete the rigors of the Academy and earn the rank of trooper,” Acting PSP Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said. “I am beyond proud to welcome these brave individuals to our PSP family, and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to successfully serve, protect, and uphold the law across the Commonwealth.”
Two of the troopers assigned to Troop L also received special recognition during the graduation ceremony.
Elsdon received the Colonel Ronald M. Sharpe Leadership Award for exemplifying qualities of leadership, while Knapp received the John K. Schafer Memorial Award for earning the highest combined score on a series of physical skills tests.
The 176th Cadet Class is the sixth to graduate from the PSP Academy since the college credit requirement for trooper applicants was eliminated in August 2023. According to PSP, the agency saw a 69% increase in applicants in 2025 compared with 2022, when the requirement was still in place.
State officials said the 2026-27 budget includes $16.2 million to support four additional cadet classes, representing approximately 380 troopers. Since 2023, funding has been secured for 16 cadet classes intended to train more than 1,600 new state troopers. PSP said 673 cadets have graduated during that period.
The agency’s latest hiring cycle remains open through Sept. 30. Information about application requirements, benefits and the hiring process is available through the Pennsylvania State Police recruitment website.
