Police officers graduate
The Monmouth County Police Academy, Freehold Township, graduated 26 new police officers recently, many of whom will now go on to serve as full-time patrolmen.

The graduating class, five of whom paid their own way through the academy and do not have promises of employment, trained for nearly 750 hours over the course of 20 weeks in order to complete the 75th Basic Course for Police Officers.

According to a press release from the county, in his graduation address, Monmouth County Freeholder William C. Barham praised the young officers and said it takes courage, dedication, integrity and good judgment to be a police officer.

"It takes initiative and mature judgment to deal with the circumstances you will encounter on the job," Barham said. "You must always be prepared to protect our homes and our lives. As police officers you will make our communities better and safer places to live. Wear your uniforms and badges with pride, because you earned it. Congratulations to all of you on your achievement, and thank you for making Monmouth County a safe place to work and raise our children."

Monmouth County Police Academy Director John G. McCormack said the new officers are fully trained and ready to begin protecting citizens in the communities they will serve. As police officers, he said, they will be held to a higher standard of conduct and are expected to demonstrate an abiding sense of fairness.

"The people you serve expect these things from you," McCormack said.

Monmouth County Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, who also attended the graduation, said it takes a special kind of person to be a police officer.

"These brave young men and women stand between right and wrong and keep our communities safe. I pray they all have safe and happy careers," she said.

Award winners are: Matthew C. Ehrenreich, Academic Award; Matthew C. Ehrenreich, Marksmanship Award; Eric Jennings, Physical Fitness Award; Daniel Kobil, Traffic Officers' Association Award; Michael J. Dowens, Merit Award; and Jason M. Caruso, Outstanding Training Award.

The graduates and the towns where they will work are: Christopher C. Bartlett, Eatontown; Christopher J. Brady, Ocean Township; Savino A. Capilupi, Alternate Route; Jason M. Caruso, Alternate Route; Scott R. DeLuca, Freehold Township; Michael J. Dowens, Holmdel; Brian P. Egan, Deal; Matthew C. Ehrenreich, Red Bank; Peter J. Farmer, Monmouth Beach; Nicholas Iozzi, Freehold; Eric R. Jennings, Wall; Daniel J. Kobil, Alternate Route; Jarrad Kodran, Freehold Township; Nicholas D. Maletto, Red Bank; Sean P. McGraw, Holmdel; Ryan M. Meixsell, Brielle; George T. Olski Jr., Long Branch; Scott T. O'Shea, Lake Como; Michael J. Popek, Howell; Jeffrey S. Sellmeyer, Jamesburg; Robert M. Shanklin III, Wall; Paul J. Smikovecus, Alternate Route; Nicholas D. Vaccaro, Deal; Zandra M. Vega, Freehold; Jeffrey D. Waybright, Alternate Route; and Matthew J. Zilinski, Howell.

Alternate Route indicates those individuals who put themselves through the academy.