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Atmore native was part of Class 2020-E

Atmore’s James Dean was one of 52 new Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Troopers who graduated in a closed ceremony at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center on Nov. 4, according to a release.

ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor welcomed the agency’s newest sworn members and commended them for continuing to persevere and complete the ACJTC’s intensive training during these precarious times.

Trooper Class 2020-E, which began Aug. 30, is one of the largest classes in the agency’s recent history. It is also ALEA’s first combined class, with a portion of the graduates already having law enforcement experience. The class consisted of 12 ALEA trooper trainees who received their certification from the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) from June 1 to Aug. 27. In addition, 40 accelerated trooper trainees who were already APOSTC-certified joined Aug. 30.

Since Jan. 1, ALEA has hired 118 troopers, according to a release.

“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.” Taylor said during the ceremony. “I promise you; we will not let you down and we will support you.”

Also included in Class 2020-E are three members whose fathers are sworn 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; and Dean is the son of Trooper Jimmy Dean, who passed away in February.

To see the unedited video of the graduation ceremony for friends and family of graduates who were not able to attend due to COVID-19 should visit https://youtube.com/channel/UCfjppZ7Oe5rTsCXBbsB-xaQ.