Recently, 36 probationary troopers from the 80th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy graduated. One of those officers, Kegan Kern, was assigned to the Indiana State Police Peru Post and has started three months of field training with veteran officers.

Kern graduated from the 80th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy on December 19, 2021. During his 25 weeks of training, Kern received over 600 hours of classroom instruction as well as nearly 400 hours of hands-on practical scenario-based training. Some areas of training included criminal and traffic law, crash investigations, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, firearms, and a host of other subjects related to modern policing. Kern is now assigned to train with veteran troopers for the next 13 weeks before being released on solo patrol.

Kern is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He served four years obtaining the rank of senior airman. He is a 2014 graduate of Peru High School and holds an associate degree in criminal justice.

Kern and his wife currently reside in Miami County.