MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Sgt. Ed Starling, a veteran trooper with the Georgia State Patrol, is the new acting post commander of the Milledgeville post.

Starling, who has been with the Georgia State Patrol since starting out as a cadet in Trooper School in early August 2005, has served in his present position since March 2.

Prior to Milledgeville, Starling, who had served as a corporal before he was promoted to sergeant on Aug. 16, 2015, worked as assistant post commander at GSP Post 46 in Monroe.

“I was there for about 1 ½ years,” Starling told the newspaper Monday.

Starling began his law enforcement career after 9/11 working as a jailer and later as a road patrol deputy with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.

He worked with the local sheriff’s office from 2001 until 2005.

Starling recalled that he had a roommate who was a deputy sheriff on 9/11.

“I felt like I needed to do something positive in that regard, so that’s what brought me into law enforcement,” Starling said, noting he enjoys what he does because it’s the kind of job that affords him the opportunity to help others in a variety of ways. “It’s always a positive thing when you can help somebody in need whether it be a stranded motorist or somebody going through a personal crisis.”

At the Milledgeville GSP post, there is a combination of seven troopers and NCOs, including Starling.

“Largely, the functions of troopers are largely based on supervising themselves,” Starling said. “There are some administrative procedures that we have to abide by with policies and things like that, but really it’s a one-person patrol car and each trooper kind of looks after themselves for the most part.”

Starling said things are going very smoothly so far at the Milledgeville post.

“We have a great bunch of guys who are really hard workers, and very dedicated to their jobs,” Starling said. “It makes my job easy.”

His newest assignment at the Milledgeville GSP post marks the second time he has worked there in recent years. Almost four years ago while working in Milledgeville at the post, he was promoted to corporal.

He previously worked out of GSP posts in Conyers and Madison.

Starling has made Milledgeville his home since 1987. He is married and his daughter just graduated from high school last Friday night.