Jasper district gets two new state troopers

On December 21, 2023, twenty-eight probationary troopers graduated from the 84th Indiana State Police Academy.

Among the graduates were troopers Kayla Denk and Blake Leary, who will report for duty at the Jasper State Police Post on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

After this, these two probationary troopers will begin their next phase of instruction, a three-month field training period, working alongside veteran troopers. Field training aims to give troopers a practical application to the training they received throughout the formal academy. Upon completing field training, the troopers will be assigned an Indiana State Police patrol vehicle and begin solo patrol.

These troopers have completed over 1,200 hours of structured training in law enforcement techniques and hands-on, scenario-based training at the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy. Their curriculum included criminal law instruction, emergency vehicle operations, psychology, traffic law, crash investigation, self-defense, first responder, and other general law enforcement-related training.

Trooper Denk is a 2012 graduate of Jasper High School in Jasper, Indiana.  After high school, she attended Vincennes University. Denk joined the Indiana Army National Guard in 2016 and currently holds the rank of Sergeant. Denk is dual-tasked in the Indiana Army National Guard as a recruiter and a combat medic. Trooper Denk and her husband currently reside in Dubois County, Indiana. 

Trooper Leary is a 2020 graduate of Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg, Indiana. After high school, he attended Indiana University Southeast. Trooper Leary currently resides in Orange County, Indiana.