LANSING — Eight new Michigan State Police motor carrier officers will begin work next week following the graduation of the 22nd Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School Thursday afternoon at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing.

Among the new graduates is Daniel Dischler, of Holton, who will be assigned to the Niles post.

Motor carrier officers are armed uniformed members of the MSP who specialize in commercial vehicle enforcement. They enforce traffic safety laws on commercial vehicles, protect the infrastructure through aggressive size and weight enforcement, conduct commercial vehicle and driver inspections and contribute to homeland security efforts by enforcing hazardous material regulations.

“These highly-trained officers are critical to public safety and Michigan’s economy,” said Gov. Rick Snyder. “Protecting our highway infrastructure and everyone who travels it is a very important job. I commend our new officers for their commitment to our great state and its residents.”

Officer Michelle Cini, who was elected class orator by her fellow recruits, spoke on behalf of the graduating class. The Team Building Award went to Mahir Hadzic and Erik O’Shea. Brett Nagus II received the Academic Achievement and Outstanding Performance awards. The Marksmanship Award went to Daniel Dischler.

“As a motor carrier officer, your mission is an important one — to ensure the legitimate and safe travel of the nation’s commercial vehicles through Michigan,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP, in her address to the recruits. “I ask that you take the rights and responsibilities granted to you as motor carrier officers seriously and that you strive each day to be the best officer you can be.”

The 22nd Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School began on Aug. 13, 2017, when 14 prospective officers reported to the MSP Training Academy in Lansing. For the past 19 weeks, recruits received training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, first aid, criminal law, precision driving, commercial vehicle law and commercial vehicle inspection procedures.

In order to be selected to attend the academy, applicants had to pass a stringent selection process that included a physical fitness test, background investigation and hiring interview.

Of the eight new motor carrier officers, four have continued their education with some college studies and two have prior military experience.

To learn more about a career with the MSP, interested candidates should visit mi.gov/MSPjobs.