PIERRE, S.D. (KCCR) – As squeeks from their polished, shiny new leather duty gear echoed through the South Dakota Capitol Rotunda Thursday, nine freshly minted South Dakota Highway Patrol troopers gathered for a delayed graduation ceremony Thursday. Major Rick Miller told the family members in attendance to continue to support the troopers as they depart for duty stations across South Dakota.

South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson told the troopers they will come to respect and understand their training even more once on patrol.

Trooper Jordan Moses is a member of Class 61 and says becoming a trooper was not easy and it shouldn’t have been.

The troopers were given their patrol vehicles early and put to work for last week’s blizzard. The nine are working at duty stations in Pierre, Presho, Mobridge, Aberdeen, Millbank and Belle Fourche.