2005-19
NEWS RELEASE:   May 16, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM:   The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT:   LT John Eichkorn 785-296-6800
Megan Ingmire 785-296-6800

Vajgrt Promoted to Lieutenant

Colonel William Seck, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, has announced that Master Trooper Joseph M. Vajgrt was promoted to lieutenant on February 12, 2005. He will assume duties as a lieutenant of recruit training at the Patrol’s Training Academy in Salina.

Joining the Patrol in 1978 as a trooper, Vajgrt performed road patrol duties in Lyons. In 1982, he transferred to Concordia before his transfer in 1987 to Salina as a training instructor. He began road patrol duties in Salina in 1989. Vajgrt was promoted to master trooper in 1993.

As a member of the Patrol, Vajgrt has been a defense tactics instructor, field training officer and recruit class coach for several recruit classes, most recently for the fall of 2004 class. He has also been a member of the Patrol’s Special Response Team. In 1980, Vajgrt was the recipient of the Superintendent’s Award for chasing and apprehending an armed bank robbery suspect within thirty minutes of the crime.

Vajgrt served in the U.S. Marines between 1974 and 1978. He continues to serve in the Kansas Air Guard as a master sergeant. With the Kansas Air Guard, he was activated for 22 months, from September of 2001 to August of 2003.

He graduated from the Grand Island Northwest High School in Grand Island, Nebraska. He received his associates degree in general studies from Cloud County Community College.