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HELENA - Ten troopers graduated from the 52nd Montana Highway Patrol Advanced Academy on Friday.

MT Attorney General Steve Bullock congratulated the commitment each new trooper had made to working for the Patrol, noting that the class of 10 was selected from 543 applicants.

Bullock noted, "Troopers stay with the Patrol because they have an opportunity to make a very real difference for the people of our state. You can be sure that the communities in which you will serve need you there."

Six of the graduating troopers will serve their initial assignments in Montana's eastern and northern counties in response to the additional demands placed on law enforcement by the oil boom.

Bullock said, "While the oil boom has provided great opportunities, it has also presented tremendous challenges for our communities. Two homicides just two weeks apart in January, in an area where law enforcement is already stretched thin, are a sobering reminder of those challenges."

Colonel Michael Tooley, chief of the MHP, said, "One of our goals within the Patrol has been to reduce the amount of time people have to wait when we get a call for service. With the surge of businesses and population coming into eastern Montana, six members of this graduating class have been assigned to communities in that region so we can reduce wait times and do more to meet the growing public safety challenges in this area."

Each Trooper chose someone special to pin on their badge; Michael Zufelt chose his wife Camie.

He said, "For me it's awesome. She's been my best friend for the past 10 years, since we've been married. She's stuck behind me and motivated me to keep going and do this."

Camie said, "We've worked long and hard, and I say we, but he has done a phenomenal job getting here. This was his life dream and to be able to be up there and be part of it and show that I am so proud of him, was a great feeling."

The class started their training in September of 2011 and after Friday's swearing-in they'll take part in a nine-week field training program before assuming their initial station assignments.

Here is the list of graduates:

Name, From, Initial Station Assignment

Craig Allen, Kennewick, WA, Libby
Daniel Baerveldt, Kalispell, Culbertson
Gabriel Bernard, Billings, Wolf Point
Christopher Garza, Spokane, WA, Cut Bank
Jason Love, Belgrade, Sidney
Wade Palmer, Drummond, Havre
Douglas Samuelson, Belgrade, Terry
Amari Schmalz, Bridger, Glendive
Derek Stoner, Kalispell, Havre
Michael Zufelt, Helena, Plentywood