def #91

def #91 05/21/09

OCEAN COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATES 87 NEW OFFICERS

LAKEWOOD – Surrounded by family, friends and peers, Ocean County’s newest police officers were given a warm sendoff during two separate graduation ceremonies May 21 at Georgian Court University, here.

“You have chosen law enforcement as your profession because making a difference is your calling in life,” said Ocean County Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who addressed the morning graduates from the Ocean County Police Academy. “When you do have to enforce the law, be firm and fair, and remember that the community that you serve includes everyone.”

The recruits spent more than 750 hours at the Ocean County Police Academy located in Ocean County Park, here, receiving instruction in a host of areas including firearms, criminal law, traffic law, defensive tactics, forensics, domestic violence and physical fitness training.

Ocean County Sheriff William L. Polhemus, who oversees the Academy, said the mission of the Academy is to prepare police recruits mentally, physically, ethically and with a proficiency of skills to perform police duties at a high level of competency.

“This mission is carried out by the dedicated instructors that work with our recruits making certain they are provided the tools they need to best serve their communities,” Polhemus said.

Polhemus noted that of the 10 police recruits graduating from the Basic Police Class 92, seven would be joining the ranks of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

“We are very proud of all the recruits who completed this training and we are especially pleased to have these new officers joining the county department,” Polhemus said.

Police Academy classes that graduated were Basic Police Class No. 92, and Special Law Enforcement Officer II Classes No. 25 and 24.

“This is a very special day for the recruits and their families,” said Freeholder John P. Kelly, who serves as Director of Law and Public Safety. “On behalf of my colleagues on the board, I want to congratulate them for their hard work during their time at the Ocean County Police Academy.”

Two special presentations were made to recruits in Class 92. Kyle T. Pimm, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, received the James J. Tracey Leadership Award, sponsored by the Ocean County Emerald Society while John W. Bourke, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, received the George Haines Award, a special presentation by the 200 Club, a private citizens group formed to provide assistance to the families of police, fire, first aid personnel and state police in Ocean County who lost their lives or were seriously injured in the line of duty.

Recipients of the class awards for Class 92 were: Kyle T. Pimm, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, High Academic; John W. Bourke, Ocean County Sheriff’s Deaprtment, the High Overall and High Physical Fitness; David H. Leonardi, New Jersey Human Services Police Department, High Marksmanship and Distinguished Expert Perfect Score.

The graduates of the Basic Police Class No. 92 and their respective police departments are: John W. Bourke, David J. DeLeeuw, Kevin S. Fennessy, Kyle T. Pimm, Douglas E. Schuler Jr., Charles A. Solimine, John R. Strodel, all Ocean County Sheriff’s Department; David H. Leonardi, New Jersey Human Services Police Department; Wallace T. Polhemus Jr. and Ryan C. Quinn, both Toms River Police Department.

Class 25 award recipients were: Steven A. Scerbo, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, Police Training Commission Merit Award; Travis E. Seaman, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Academic; Nicholas J. Castellano, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Physical Fitness and High Overall; and Thomas D. Marks, Ship Bottom Police Department, High Marksmanship.

The graduates of the SLEO II Class No. 25 and their respective police departments are: Timothy J. Baggs, Eric S. Berkoben Jr., Michael J. Dzienis, Anthony C. Mendoza, Richard Nikodem, William R. Resnyk III, Jeffrey M. Roma, Michael J. Schaefer, Cory W. Sierchio, all Seaside Park Police Department; Stephen C. Baker, Joseph F. Bellavance, Todd C. DeVito, Gregory T. Edgecomb, Joseph M. Latif, Lawrence J. Mayberry, Gabriel J. Sommella, Edward M. Webb, all Seaside Heights Police Department; William L. Baldizzone, Nicholas B. Barber, Nicholas J. Castellano, Sean B. Clayton, Matthew T. Dorick, Robert Robinson IV, Steven A. Scerbo, Travis E. Seaman, all Point Pleasant Beach Police Department; Michael S. Cicero, Ocean Township Police Department; Kevin M. Connolly, James F. Golding Jr., Daniel A. Ivancich, all Beach Haven Police Department; Blake A. Johnson, Bay Head Police Department, and Thomas D. Marks, Ship Bottom Police Department.

Class 24 award recipients were: Andrew S. Anderson, Seaside Heights Police Department, Police Training Commission Merit Award and High Marksmanship Award; Richard B. Corbett, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Academic; Christopher R. Clune, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department.

The graduates of the SLEO II Police Class #24 and their respective police departments are: Andrew S. Anderson, Matthew G. Antonucci, Benjamin C. Celano, Gary L. D’Alessio Jr., Ryan S. Dunne, Joseph M. Fastige, Christopher T. Foley, John R. Frey, Anthony E. Giacinti, Elvin R. Giordano, IV, Ashley E. LeFevre, Kevin R. Licknack, Chrisovalandis Mageros, Robert E. Maritz, III, John M. Provaznik, Joseph J. Regan, David A. Rodriguez, Richard J. Sasso Jr., Philip Scibetta, Eric S. Vega, all Seaside Heights Police Department; Christopher R. Anderson, Drew M. Blake, Brian J. Brunas, Christopher R. Clune, Richard B. Corbett, Nicola Costagliola, Jesse T. Dallago, Bryan M. Deily, Joseph M. Giacobbe, Joseph F. Gippetti, Michael N. Hidalgo, Michael J. McGowan, Jay Nye, Christopher J. Quackenbush, Eric C. Scamporino, Gary Siculietano, all Point Pleasant Beach Police Department; Gloria L. Atkinson, Shawn R. Blakely, both Mantoloking Police Department; Andrew M. Baldino, Andrew Pero, both Lavallette Police Department; Donald B. Haines, Daniel J. Petrone, both Long Beach Township Police Department; Gregory A. Lauretta Jr., Seaside Park Police Department; John Melassanos, Bay Head Police Department; Brian S. Smith, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, and Amanda J. Unkefer, Surf City Police Department.