Wednesday afternoon seven troopers with the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) got their new badge and pins, as they officially start their new role as sergeants on Monday.
Officials say the most sergeant promotions at one time before Wednesday was four, making it a historic day for the agency.
The seven sergeants went through a long process for the promotion, taking written tests and conducting several interviews. Nevada Highway Patrol Captain Blair Harkleroad says sergeants need many traits, now that they're in charge of other troopers.
"Leadership skills, good communication skills," Harkleroad says. "Just a knowledge in general of risk management and how we can coach and mentor our troopers to become supervisors and leaders within their community."
One of the seven new sergeants is Colby Powell. He's been an NHP trooper for three and a half years, during which he patrolled the Fernley/Fallon area as well as Las Vegas. His brother Charles is a retired captain for NHP, and was the one who pinned Colby's badge on during the ceremony Wednesday. Still, Colby says its his wife that really pushed him to become a state trooper. Since he made the decision, he put his mind to making a difference.
"I do like the idea of effecting change," Colby says. "Especially in a big organization like this where you can make a large impact. That's why I intend to continue promoting and make as much change in a positive way for the highway patrol."
Families of the new sergeants were invited to the ceremony, a practice that wasn't around when Charles was promoted to sergeant about 20 years ago. Charles says the ceremony is a great idea, because the sergeants and their families deserve recognition. He says Colby is ready to take on the great responsibility of being a sergeant for NHP.
"[They're] jumping into a leadership role," Charles says. "It's the transition from working the line to going to the administration side. And understand what the roles and responsibilities of someone who has to help others out is."
Charles says Colby was always mature, but he's still seen a lot of growth since he became a state trooper. That being said, Charles believes Colby is in for all kinds of life-changing challenges.
"He going to discover parts of him that I don't think he understood," Charles says. "He's going to mature, realize human nature, and having to deal with the public. He's going to have to deal with good things and bad things; all things that we mature with and grow into."
While encounters on patrol will certainly contribute to Colby's growth, he's also focused on the troopers he'll be working with near Tonopah, who will be looking to him for guidance.
"I'm looking forward to helping foster the brotherhood there in Tonopah," Colby says. "And get those troopers on another level pushing towards their goals as well."
