BRISTOL—On January 9, 2025, thirty newly appointed probationary troopers graduated from the 86th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy. Three of these troopers are being assigned to the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post, where they will begin their next training phase, a three-month field training period riding with veteran troopers.
The purpose of the field training is to put into practical application the training received throughout the formal academy. Upon successful completion of field training, each trooper will be assigned a state police patrol vehicle and will begin solo patrol. These troopers have already completed over 1,100 hours of structured training in law enforcement techniques and hands-on and scenario-based training at the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy. The curriculum included criminal law instruction, emergency vehicle operations, psychology, traffic law, crash investigation, self-defense, first responder, and other general enforcement-related training.
Trooper Andrew Bixler is a native of Steuben County, Indiana. He was homeschooled and attended Faithway Baptist College near Toronto, Canada. In 2021, he graduated with a theology degree. He will patrol the Indiana Toll Road primarily in St. Joseph, Elkhart, and LaGrange County.
Trooper Carson Hieber graduated from East Noble High School. After high school, he attended Indiana University South Bend, where he studied criminal justice for three years. While there, he interned for the Indiana State Police at the Toll Road Post. He will patrol the Indiana Toll Road primarily in St. Joseph, Elkhart, and LaGrange County.
Trooper Brianna Santoyo is a graduate of Triton High School. She went on to earn a general studies degree from Indiana University South Bend with a concentration in mathematics and science. While attending Indiana University South Bend, she was an intern for the Indiana State Police Bremen Post in 2019. She will primarily patrol the Indiana Toll Road in Porter, LaPorte, and S.t. Joseph County.
Anyone interested in becoming an Indiana State Trooper should visit IndianaTrooper.com.
