JUNCTION CITY - On August 24th, the Kansas Highway Patrol announced the promotion of Master Trooper Wilmer Baquero Jr. to the rank of Lieutenant.
Lt. Baquero will serve the Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C, Zone D in northeast Kansas.
In 2004, Baquero joined the Kansas Highway Patrol as part of the 41st Class, with his initial duty station in Geary County within Troop C.
Baquero in the Junction City as a Trooper and was promoted to Master Trooper in 2010.
He has served Troop C as a Criminal Investigator for one year, and has continued to serve as Master Trooper until his recent promotion.
In 2008, Baquero received the Commander's Commendation and in 2016, he was recognized by the Geary County Crime Stoppers as Trooper of the Year.
Baquero is originally from Los Angeles, California. He attended Franklin High School and graduated from Chaffey High School in Ontario, California. He obtained his associate degree in general studies from Barton Community College. He continued his education at Central Christian College where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
In addition to his career with the Kansas Highway Patrol, Baquero served in the United States Army from 1994 to 2004, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. His military service included a deployment to Iraq in 2003. Baquero continued to serve in the Kansas National Guard until 2005.
Family is Baquero’s passion. He has a very large extended family from Mexico, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Puerto Rico and he enjoys spending as much time as possible with them.