Two Chattooga County men recently graduated from the 86^th Georgia State Patrol Trooper School in a ceremony held February 20^th at the Georgia Public Service Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia. Jamie Mitchell and Chris Harris, both of whom left positions with the Trion Police Department, were admitted to the Trooper School in July of last year after a rigorous interview and testing process. Each man endured a grueling 33-week training period involving such areas as high-speed pursuit, use of firearms, and the study of Georgia law. Each man’s wife, children, and extended family gathered to show their pride and support for such a noteworthy achievement.Although the 86^th Trooper School began with seventy-nine participants, over 40% didn’t complete the training. Mitchell and Harris emerged as part of the forty-seven men who persevered and earned the right to wear the “big hat”. Governor Sonny Purdue gave the commencement address, as he has for each trooper school during his tenure in office. He commended the new troopers for having what it takes to become a part of Georgia’s elite law enforcement agency.Harris, who was chosen by classmates to be president of the class, received an award for attaining the highest academic average. He will be patrolling out of Post 38 in Rome. Mitchell will be patrolling out of Post 3 in Cartersville.