By SALINA POST
The Kansas Highway Patrol has promoted Lt. Dennis Shoemaker, a native of Mankato, to captain.
Herman T. Jones, Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent, announced that Shoemaker will serve as S Troop Commander – Special Response Team/SRT, Hazardous Device Unit and Police Service Dog Unit/PDSU.
Shoemaker attended the Kansas Highway Patrol Training Academy and graduated Class 31 in 1998, according to Highway Patrol information. His first duty station was Cheyenne County in D Troop. In 1999 he transferred to B Troop in Douglas County. Shoemaker was promoted to Chief Soldier in 2005. He was transferred to S Troop – Special Response Team and during this time he became a Technical Soldier. In 2010, Shoemaker transferred to B Troop as Troop Master. He was promoted to lieutenant and assumed supervisory duties in Shawnee County in 2013. Shoemaker was later named S Troop’s administrative lieutenant in 2016.
Prior to his service with the Kansas Highway Patrol, Shoemaker served as a police officer in Hays and Great Bend, the Highway Patrol noted in a news release about his Facebook page.
Shoemaker is from Mankato and graduated from Mankato High School. He attended Highland Community College and Fort Hays State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
